Just received this in the mail yesterday. The portrait is what drew me to the coin in the first place since it is a bit odd. But in researching the coin, I found a lot of interesting information regarding Lysimachus. Lysimachus (Greek: Λυσίμαχος, Lysimachos; 360 BCE - 281 BCE) was a Macedonian officer and successor of Alexander the Great, who became a king in 306 BCE, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedonia. Lysimachus was born in 362/361 BC, the son of the Thessalian Agathocles from Crannon. He was granted citizenship in Macedon and was educated at the court in Pella. During Alexander's Persian campaigns, he was one of his immediate bodyguards. In 324 BCE, in Susa, he was crowned in recognition for his actions in India. After Alexander’s death in 323 BCE, he was appointed to the government of Thrace as strategos. Domestic troubles embittered the last years of Lysimachus’s life. Amastris his wife and a Persian Queen, had been murdered by her two sons; Lysimachus put them to death. Arsinoe asked the gift of Heraclea, and he granted her request, though he had promised to free the city. Arsinoe conspired against Lysimachus' son with the help of her brother Ptolemy Keraunos; they accused him of conspiring with Seleucus to seize the throne, and he was put to death. This atrocious deed of Lysimachus aroused great indignation, and many of the cities of Asia revolted, with his most trusted friends deserting him. The widow of Agathocles fled to Seleucus, who at once invaded the territory of Lysimachus in Asia. In 281 BCE, Lysimachus crossed the Hellespont into Lydia, and at the decisive Battle of Corupedium was killed. After some days his body was found on the field, protected from birds of prey by his faithful dog. Lysimachus's body was given over to his son Alexander, by whom it was interred at Lysymachia. LYSIMACHUS KING OF THRACIA AR Drachm OBVERSE: Head of Heracles right wearing lionskin headdress REVERSE: BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, Zeus seated left, holding eagle on outstretched right hand & sceptre in left, lion forepart & crescent before, pentagram under throne. Struck at Colophon, Thrace 301-297 BC 4.17g, 18mm Price L1842
There are two major kinds of Lysimachus drachms. Bing's is the copy of Alexander style with Zeus and eagle. Also available are 'original' design drachms with horned portrait and Athena holding a small Nike. Of course the different ones are more popular so my example is more worn.
cool drachm and write up bing! i don't have one form this fellow, here's my philip iii copy of an alexander.
Wow, Big Bro => that's a sweet AR OP-addition (congrats, our Ma would be very proud) Ummm, sadly I don't have an example like you fellas, but I do have this very cool AE version of Lysimachos (wanna see?) King of Thrace Lysimachos AE18 323 - 281 BC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.9 grams Obverse: Athena, head right in crested Corinthian helmet Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ΛΥΣIMAXOΥ, lion leaping to right, monogram and spear-head beneath
Lysimachus, Kingdom of Thrace, BC 323-305 AE, 5g, 17mm; 5h; BC 317-305 Obv.: laureate head of Apollo right Rev.: ΦΙΛΙ[ΠΠΟΥ]; horseman riding right; ΛΥ beneath horse left, lion forepart right (protome of lion)
I have an AE of Lysimachos as well. LYSIMACHUS KING OF THRACIA AE 20 OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right REVERSE: BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, above and beneath lion running right, small caduceus, spearhead below Struck at Uncertain mint, Thrace 305-281 BC 6.1g, 20mm SNG Cop1149-51
Here is my Alexander - Zeus drachm. I did have a Tet until recently but no longer. Silver drachm Obv:– Head of Herakles right clad in lion's head headdress. Rev:– BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, Zeus seated left on throne, eagle extended in right, long vertical scepter in left, forepart of lion over DI on left, K under throne Minted in Colophon mint from . B.C. 299 - 296. Ref:– Thompson 125, Müller - Restoring the types from the lifetime of Alexander the Great but minted in the name of Lysimachos. ex Harlan J. Berk. Ex-Forvm
Even these newer types were restored in later times. This one was mine but I had to part with it a few years ago. Lysimachos, Kingdom of Thrace, AR tetradrachm, Posthumous Issue, circa 2nd Century B.C. Obv:– Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon. Rev:– Athena enthroned l., holding Nike on extended r. hand and spear, and resting l. elbow on shield propped against throne; LUSIMACOU in l. field; KP monogram in inner field; BY on throne, BASILEWS in r. field; ornamented trident in exergue Minted in Byzantium, circa 2nd Century B.C. (Posthumous Issue) Weight 16.97g. Size 37.11 mm Martin
Nice addition(s) Bing!! Love the write-up!!! Wonderful examples one and all... Martin had a type I also had to sell years ago, and in about the same grade---obviously, one of the best I had... Now, all I have is a modest drachm and bronze example, presumably life-time issues of Alexander.
