Wanted to show off another recent purchase of mine that I didn't get around to posting.
Macedonia, AE18 of Antigonas II Gonatas
277-239 BC
Obverse: Head of Athena right in crested Corinthian helmet
Reverse: Pan standing right, erecting trophy, ANT monogram between legs. B-A in upper left & right field; helmet to left, Phi right.
Couldn't find this particular one on Wildwinds, but seems to be a variant of SNGCop 1206
Antigonas was born in 319 BC amid the chaos surrounding the death of Alexander III and the division of his empire. His childhood was marked by warfare as his grandfather Antigonas I attempted to re-unite Alexander's empire, before meeting his demise in 301 BC. When he came of age, Antigonas went off to war as a general under his father Demetrius I. His father saw much success in seizing power in Greece but spread his forces too thinly during his campaign, losing Greece to Lysimachus and ultimately being forced to surrender to Seleucus in Asia.
Antigonas received his father's body in 283 BC and was forced to lay low while holding a small amount of territory in Greece. While various entities went to war over the throne of Macedonia, a horde of Gauls invaded and threw the whole region into chaos. Antigonas struck decisively in 277 BC and reclaimed Macedonia for himself.
His first reign was short-lived, as Phyrrus had just retreated from Rome, and in 275 BC invaded Macedonia to pay his troops for that campaign. Antigonas was driven to the costal cities, but was too war-weary to take on his new foe. He was eventually forced into action, and Phyrrus was slain in a chaotic battle within the walls of Argives. Horrified when his own son brought Phyrrus' severed head as a war trophy, he gave the slain king a proper cremation and began his 33 year reign.
A more conservative and diplomatic ruler than his father and grandfather, Antigonas held a steady rule over most of Greece, although his reign was still marked by various attempted invasions by Egypt and insurrections from Greek cities that were resentful of the regents installed by Antigonas. He died at the age of 80 in 239 BC.
Posted 05/06/2016 2:48 pm
