Nomos 15

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Stater (Gold, 18 mm, 8.54 g, 1 h), Struck under Antigonos I Monophthalmos or slightly later, Abydos, c. 310-297. Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet adorned with a coiled serpent. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; [M in wreath in left field], cornucopia below left wing. Cf. Price 1562 (same obverse die). Rare. Clear and nicely centered. Struck from a worn reverse die, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Acquired privately from H.J. Berk (but misattributed as being minted in Magnesia).

This coin is rather surprisingly interesting: the letter within wreath that was originally present in the left field of the reverse, seems to have been effaced in the minting process. Either the engraving on the dies became filled with debris during striking, or it was deliberately erased. In that case, it would indicate that the die was still in a usable state after the signing magistrate's term was over. Thus, his initial would have been removed and replaced by that of his successor. That this was not done must have been a mistake, with the die being used only partially modified.