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 Replies: 11 / Views: 6,184 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Maybe someone will care to share and opinion on this coin. It appears to be a Tetradrachm of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexander made famous for his rolling victories over the Persian invaders and eventually spreading Greek culture throughout the known world. Alexanders empire stretched from Egypt in the west to India in the east. The defeat of the Persians instituted the Hellenistic Period which would last until the absorption of the Greek world by the Romans. This series of Tetradrachm was struck for nearly 2 centuries, at a variety of mints and for a variety of succeeding kings.There has been several efforts to catalog the various coins. With many being attributed and dated with relative certainty but there are those that have raised some questions, which experts have yet to agree. Here I have this Tetradrachm 16.96 grams and on a smaller thick flan struck in fine style. The monogram appears to be a lightning bolt or HD monogram? (opinions, please) I have one similar to Price 210. The mint is guessed to be Pella, the capitol city and birth place of Alexander III. Alexander did not return home but died in Babylon in BC 323. This coins I have I believe is c. BC 325. Given the size of the flan and the fine style of the obverse and reverse device of uncrossed Zeus legs points to a highly coveted "Lifetime" issue of the great kings standard. Further supported by the lack of a king title in the bottom reverse field. Again please comment. Thanks all for reading and enjoy.   Edited by Ancientnoob
07/24/2012 2:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
That's a beautiful coin. I have been collecting Roman coins for three decades now, and have just dabbled into Greek coinage just recently. Perhaps you saw the AR Drachm of Alexander III from Abydos, Price 1505,I posted a couple of days ago. Anyway, I'm a noob to Greek coinage so cannot comment on your coin other than to say how nice it is. BTW, someone mentioned the crossed legs reflect a posthumous issue. Is that correct?
Regards,
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5155 Posts |
Yes as I have always been told that the cross legs came into use after his death and remained in place until the absorption of the Greek world by the Romans. Although there are some conflicting references. Some experts (forgive me I am not good with remembering the reference)argue there was no lifetime Pella mint Tet. Although this is assuming that all Pella mints have the Boetian Shield as the device in the left reverse field. On the other hand this appears to be a lighting bolt or an HD monogram. I have never saw or knew I saw a tetradrachm of ALEX III with the open legs being attributed as posthumous but..but...but...I have read they do exist. Either way I will still love this coin, struck in ancient times in high relief in the capital of the world, and the devices seem rather rare. Thanks for looking. I will see if I can find my online sources, at the moment I am not on my home computer but on my lab computer playing around killing time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
From sources I've read, I've also understood that a "straight leg" Zeus often means a lifetime issue. On Wildwinds, the date range they give for Price 210 is 325-315 BC, which is the later end of Alex. III's reign. Herakle's portrait looks like A Macedonian issue too. The monogram also resembles the coin below:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Thanks for the sources DV!! BTW I love your reverse left field monogram. Yes 99% of what I have read indicates that the crossed legs is an after death issue. I am not as familiar with the drachm denomination series as the tetradrachm, they used different systems for monograms and the dating is slightly differnt. Forgive me for not being anymore descriptive then that... what I have read as far as Tets are concerned is that straight legs is lifetime issue and that stands true in most cercumstances for the drachm as well.
Again thanks all, I am really happy you all like it. Its one of my favorites, so chunky and heavy struck in high relief. Like a "3D" coin. I have a Demetrius Sotor that is so 3D its ridiculous.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
TJ I must say that's a real nice one, The Monogram is soo ornate.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Lets see some more Alexander tets I know there out there and need to be posted....
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Valued Member
Canada
472 Posts |
If you insist... Since I collect drachms, I do not have many tetras. But I've got this one  Babylon mint (331-325 BC). Price -  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I love the 3D shot. I have tried that before and never been able to get it to look right.
BTW based on the coins you have posted you have some of the nicest coins I have ever seem truly museum quality.
Edited by Ancientnoob
08/27/2012 11:07 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Wow--the strike and relief on that tet is fantastic! The side view is really cool!  This one's a perfect example why I'm such a fan of ancient Greek coins.  Edited by DVCollector
08/27/2012 11:38 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Holy 3-D side-view, Batman!! => nice coin!! |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 6,184 |
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Posted 07/24/2012 3:03 pm
