To the strongest: The death of a god - OTD Alexander The Great dies a mysterious death

LIFETIME ALEXANDER


Makedon Alexander III Lifetime Tet Myriandrus mint-Alexandria near Issus


And, another of his Lifetime Tet at the location of his Death:


BABALONIA, Babylon
Alexander III Lifetime
AR Tetradrachm / Stater (or Dishekel)
Minted ca. 323-328 B.C.
24 mm, 16.3g
Obv: Ba’al seated left holding scepter
Rev: Lion walking left, control mark Г above.
(Control mark Г was minted during Alexander III Lifetime)
Ref: Ref: BMC Arabia XXII no.1
Comment: "This type was discussed by Martin Price in his article "Circulation at Babylon in 323 BC," in the book "Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner." He asserts that a reengraved die clearly shows the "lion staters" with gamma followed the ones with delta. "They are probably shekels on the local standard." (page 67). He dates them to the lifetime of Alexander, because they were present in a hoard with deposition dated to 323/2. He doesn't give the earliest possible date explicitly, but mentions that Mazaeus was governor until 328 and issued coins, so I infer Price would put them at or after 328. So you can say "Struck 323 or before, under Alexander the Great." Quoted from @Valentinian
Ex: @Ancientnoob


LET’s Get SMALL


Makedon Alexander III
336-323 BCE
AR Obol
7mm 0.51g
Babylon Lifetime
Herakles lion skin
Club bow quiver wreath
M Price 3744

 

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What beautiful coins! This is really an Alexander virtual exhibition

"......Alexander seems to have liked Amphipolis, because one of his last plans was to spend no less than 315 tons silver for a splendid new temple in the city that was to be dedicated to Artemis Tauropolus. It was never built, but after Alexander's death on June 11, 323 BC in Babylon, his wife, queen Roxane, settled in Amphipolis, which appears to have become one of the residences of the Macedonian royals. In 179 BC, king Philip V died in the town."

The reference for this tetra says that the mint is uncertain - I really don't like when they say so.... but it is what it is.

AR Tetradrachm
Amphipolis (uncertain) ca. 320-317 BC, stated authority Alexander III of Macedon
Price 133; Price monogram 1238 (Π and Ο under throne); Müller 542; SNG Copenhagen 688;
24 mm, 17.031 g

Ob.: Alexander the Great as Herakles facing right wearing the Nemean lion skin, with horns curling around ears. Circle of dots.
Rev.: AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated on a backless throne to left, himation around hips and legs, eagle in extended r. hand and long scepter behind in l.
To left, dolphin; below throne, monogram (Π and O)

​

 

This is my favorite period of history. The story I always tell my friends is if I had a choice between:
a) Being a major character in Game of Thrones OR
b) Being a major party in the battle of the Diadochi

I would choose Game of Thrones, because my odds of survival would be much higher.

First, we'll start with his daddy, Philip II.



Next, a lifetime issue from Alexander, minted in Babylon around the time he died in 323 BCE.



And finally, two coins displaying Alexander himself, the first from Lysimachos and the second from Ptolemy I.

 

Just in the mail a couple days ago...whenever one of these little AEs for Alexander come up cheap, I tend to succumb. A snack! This one actually looks a tad better in hand:


Macedonia Kingdom Æ 17
Alexander III
(c. 336-323 B.C.)
Macedonian Mint (Pella?)
Head of Herakles right, with lionskin head-dress / AΛEΞANΔΡO[Y], between club above & bow and bowcase below; no symbols.
Price 266; Müller-; SNG Cop.-
(5.73 grams / 17 x 16 mm)

 

Hi @Ryro,

You are missing a ‘2’. The acsearch coin is CPE-B442.

CPE is probably too new for many dealer descriptions to use it yet.

- Broucheion

 

This thread is vintage @Ryro excellence. I love the gallery of greatness my friend.

The AtG coin that still haunts me is an auction coin I lost due to a computer glitch that kept me from inputting my max bid at the last second (that’s what I get for trying to snipe I guess). It was a Babylon lifetime tetradrachm with an old provenance that was unlisted. I had a lot of research into the coin and the winning bid didn’t come close to what my max would have been. Oh well...

For consolation I have these nice coins to keep me company.

Kings of Thrace, Macedonian
Lysimachus (305-281 BC)
AR Tetradrachm, Lampascus mint, struck ca. 297-281 BC
Dia.: 31 mm
Wt.: 16.5 g
Obv.: Diademed bust of deified Alexander right with Horn of Ammon
Rev.: ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Athena Nikphoros seated left with shield and spear. Monogram above crescent
Ref.: Thompson 61


KINGS OF MACEDON: Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BCE), lifetime issue.
AE15 “half unit.” Macedonian mint.
Dia.: 15 mm
Wt.: 4.13 g
Obv: Diademed head right.
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Horse prancing right; below, torch.
Ref.: Price 338.
Ex AMCC 2, lot 23 (Nov. 9, 2019)

 

ALEXANDER III
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Head of Herakles right in lionskin headdress
REVERSE: ALEXANDROU, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre. Forepart of Pegasos left in left field, X on W monogram beneath throne
Struck at Abydos 325-323 BC
4.2g, 17mm
Price 1505

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM
Coinage in the style of Alexander III
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
REVERSE: AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; crescent in left field, monogram below throne
Kolophon, Macedonia 310-301 BC
19mm, 4.5g
Price 1827
ex. JAZ Numismatics

 

What's the second guy so mad about? He looks like someone put a thumbtack on his throne.

 

I think he may be little gassy!

 

Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Drachm 3



Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Drachm 2



Makedon Alexander III AR Drachm 1


Makedon Alexander III AR Drachm

 

Thank you for the correction Broucheion! CPE looks to be a great Ptolemaic reference.

 

As in most things, you must pay for quality & your example is one of the best I've seen. I had one that was way off center, not the best strike and it was rather pricey.
The 1st issue under Ptolemy Soter is, IMO, an important coin historically.
You are rightly proud,
J.T.

 

With respect to Alexander the great and his illness and the subsequent death and his young age, one should consider a perforated appendix.