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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,356 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
I had a club and bowcase coin reverse, but it was very worn, and had very little detail. The Alexander the Great coin was in much better condition, so I bought it. There was another similar club and bowcase coin in reasonable condition, so I got that one as well. Ironically it is a coin of Kassander who was was one of the Diadochi who warred over Alexander's empire following the latter's death in 323 BC. Kassander later seized the crown by having Alexander's son and heir Alexander IV murdered.  Alexander the great. AE unit. Uncertain mint in Macedonia. 336-323 BC. Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress. Reverse: Bow in bow case and club. Corn ear below. Reverse Inscription: AΛEΞANΔΡOY. Diameter: 19 mm. Weight: 6.1 gr. Reference: Price 330 var. (no monogram)  Macedonia, King, Kassander, AE. 316-297 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAΣΣANΔΡOY above and between club above and bow in bowcase below. SNG Cop 1159; Moushmov 7271. Size : 20mm. Weight : 2.67gr. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
ice sharp detail on the Alexander coin.
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
 It cost a little bit more than my usual limit, but I reckon it was worth it. |
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Moderator
United States
34427 Posts |
Quote:
I reckon it was worth it. Yes a couple nice pick-ups. Those spiked clubs look kinda painful.  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Quote:
Those spiked clubs look kinda painful. Indeed. I would not like to be on the wrong end of one of those things! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7956 Posts |
Attractive coins with interesting historical connections!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
 Another case of stolen iconography, a common crime in ancient coinage. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Herakles is almost as interesting a figure as Alexander He almost certainly was a real person whose legend extended all the way from the Bronze Age straight through the classical and into the modern Both Philip and Alexander claimed lineage In the tale told by Homer Herakles is absent from the Great War Likely because it was common knowledge that Herakles had destroyed and rebuilt the walls of Troy many many years earlier in the 'first' Trojan War The telltale sign that Herakles was ancient even to the ancients is his weapon of choice The nasty looking club The "assault weapon" of choice back in the early Bronze Age !  One other war hero belongs to those earlier Bronze Age days Oddly it's Achilles He was usually depicted as having a large oval shield while the other warriors carry much smaller round shields This marks him as a transplant from an earlier age of hero's  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
@tdziemia and @Bob L
While reading up on the kings of this era and their lineage, especially the Seleucid Kingdom, I am amazed at the number of intrigues, and in-family murders etc. Being of high ranking blood was definitely not good for your health in those days. It is odd to think that intellectual property theft, ie iconography, was a problem back then as well.
@FVRIVS RVFVS
A very interesting post, as I did think that Herakles was a mythical character. It is nice to know what the importance of the war club on the reverse of many of these coins is too.
Jim
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
A very interesting read. Thank you.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,356 |
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Posted 03/09/2020 7:50 pm
