Kassander, maligned pragmatist or major schmuck?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by kirispupis, Jul 15, 2021.

  1. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Great coin & enjoyable write-up. The flan crack is not a detractor for me. I will post a coin from Antigonus, a fellow who was no pal to Cassander. It took four of the other diadochi to take him down: Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus. Antigonus must have been a tough guy, dying at 81 in battle.

    "Antigonus, king of Asia, made war against a coalition of four kings, Ptolemy, son of Lagus, king of Egypt, Seleucus, king of Babylonia, Lysimachus, king of Thrace, and Cassander, son of Antipater, king of Macedonia. When he engaged them in battle, he was pierced by many missiles, and his body was carried from the field and was buried with royal honors. His son Demetrius, however, joining his mother Stratonicê, who had remained in Cilicia with all their valuables, sailed to Salamis in Cyprus, since it was in his possession."
    -Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, XXI.4


    This didn't stop his son Demetrius from taking over Macedonia by killing Cassander's son Alexander V after responding to a call for support.

    "Thus Alexander's affairs were already settled with the help of Pyrrhus, but nevertheless Demetrius came to him; and as soon as he arrived it was plain that he was not wanted, and he inspired only fear; and after they had been together a few days their mutual distrust led them to plot against each other. But Demetrius, taking advantage of his opportunity, got beforehand with the young prince and slew him, and was proclaimed king of Macedonia."
    -Plutarch, The Life of Pyrrhus, 1.7

    Antigonos I Monophthalmos Pr.1813 2.jpg
    Kingdom of Macedon, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, as strategos of Asia, 320-306/5 BC, or king, 306/5-301 BC, AR Drachm, issued in the name and type of Alexander III. Colophon
    Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress
    Rev: Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, crescent in left field, Π below throne
    Ref: Price 1813; Müller 262
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
    Andres2, Johndakerftw and Bing like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. kirispupis

    kirispupis Well-Known Member

    That's a nice Antigonos coin, from the time when he declared himself as king. Here's my coin from him.
    331A1237-Edit.jpg
    305-300 BCE. Antigoneia.
    29mm, 16.33g
    Price 3195, Müller 804

    I do really wish that more of the diadochi minted coins in their own names + designs. My wife is starting to wonder why most of my latest coins look so similar. :)
     
    Johndakerftw, Sulla80 and Bing like this.
  4. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    These tets were usually struck in Alexander III name, this one is in name of Seleukos I and the portrait looks like Seleukos too.

    P1210939 best.JPG
     
    Johndakerftw, Bing and Sulla80 like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page