• Finest Quality Ancient Greek, Roman & Byzantine Coins
  • Renaissance & 17th Century Dutch Medals
  • Auctions & Private Treaty Sales

Obolos 15

24 May 2020
Webauction
overview
Starting Price: 75 CHF
Hammer Price:  650 CHF
Lot 118

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. (Bronze, 15 mm, 3.04 g, 4 h), uncertain mint in Macedon, most likely Amphipolis, c. 336-332. Head of Herakles in lion's skin headdress to right. Rev. AΛEΞA-[N]ΔPOY Club over bow to left; above club and bow to right, monogram of YE (?); all within a circular linear border. Unpublished in the standard references but for a similar example in Obolos 11, (2018), 115. Extremely rare without the quiver and of particular importance, being probably the prototype for the quiver/club series. Of unusually fine condition and with a lovely dark green patina. Die break on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.



This is a very strange and special coin. The bronze coins of Alexander III with the depiction of the weapons of Herakles from a well-known and very extensive series; there are very many preserved pieces, which come from a huge variety of mints. All the surviving examples of this type depict the weapons of Herakles: the club, and the bow with its bowcase (quiver). The present coin is special in many ways. First of all the quiver has been omitted; then the way the depiction is arranged is completely unusual for the type since we see the club over the bow at the center, with the inscription, divided into two horizontal lines, placed above and below. This coin looks extremely close, both stylistically and iconographically, to the chalkoi produced by the settlement of the Epeiros of Thasos (Krenides) minted in 360-356 BC (Le Rider, Thasiennes 29 & SNG ANS 646-647); in fact, that is probably the prototype for our coin, and through it, the prototype of the entire Weapons of Herakles series of Alexander. The date that we propose for the minting is based both on the appearance of the same monogram on other bronze coins of Alexander of the usual types, and also because the style of the head of Herakles is quite close to those found on the minor gold coins of Philip II and the first period of the coinage of Alexander, those with the standing eagle(s) on the reverse, which were struck in Amphipolis.

Online bidding closes: 24 May 2020, 15:59:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 17:15:08 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:650 CHF by MailBidder2339 (9 bids)
An error has occurred. This application may no longer respond until reloaded. Reload 🗙
Reconnecting, please wait...