Nomos 21

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23.5 mm, 17.16 g, 9 h), Macedonian Mint – "Amphipolis", circa 336/334. Head of youthful Herakles to right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated to left on backless throne, holding eagle with closed wings on his outstretched right hand and long scepter in his left; in field to left, prow of galley to right. Price 1. Müller 527. Nicely toned. Very rare. A coin of great historical importance, the first Attic weight tetradrachm of Alexander to be struck in Europe. Minor marks, otherwise, good very fine.

From the collection of W. Belser, Zürich, prior to 1965, and that of his son, acquired from Bank Leu in the 1960s-early 1970s, with its original ticket bearing the inventory IAR (used for miscellaneous coins that were from lots and were not given individual numbers).

If Price's arrangement of issues is correct, and there is no reason to think that it isn't (though there is some debate over their dating), this is the very first tetradrachm bearing Alexander's standard types to be struck in Macedon. There is a great deal of controversy over whether the first Herakles/Zeus tetradrachms were struck in Tarsos or in Macedon (Amphipolis), or whether they were actually contemporary. As of yet there is no final verdict. It is worth noting that the prow symbol used here is shared with the latest lifetime issues of Philip II.