Obolos 18

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander I, 498-454 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 14.5 mm, 1.83 g), Aigai, probably before 480/79. Horse standing to right. Rev. Quadripartite linear square with a kerykeion at the center; all within a shallow incuse square. BMC 6 = Raymond pl. V, b. SNG ANS -. SNG Munich 8. Extremely rare. Light porosity, scratches on reverse, otherwise, fine.

From the Trausnitz Collection, acquired prior to 2007.

Raymond concluded that this rare issue was most likely struck before Alexander's escape from Persian influence in 480/79, yet the fine style of the incuse is unlike his earliest coinage. Thus, she was unable to place it securely within the established chronology of Alexander's coinage. Likewise the low weight - which corresponds precisely to the weight of a triobol on the Macedonian octadrachm standard (1.83 g) - of this and the other fractional issues she illustrates leaves little room for a certain identification of the denomination. This coin could be a very light-weight tetrobol or it could equally be a triobol. Because of the significant wear and the likelihood of internal crystallization of this piece, we have called it a tetrobol, assuming that when it was freshly minted it was probably close to the theoretical weight of 2.18 g on the Macedonian tetradrachm standard.