Nomos 7

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.08 g 2), Amphipolis or Aegae, c. 320. Head of young Herakles in lion skin headdress to right. Rev. ΑΛΕΑΝΔΡΟΥ Eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt; to right, at end of legend, Π enclosing a dot. Price 150 var. Very rare, perhaps unpublished. Nicely centered and clear. Very fine.

From the Mieza collection, ex Gemini VI, 10 January 2010, 73.

This is a particularly enigmatic example of an enigmatic coinage! The ‘eagle’ coinage in the name of Alexander is generally thought to have been designed for local use in Macedonia during Alexander’s lifetime (see Price pp. 89-98 passim, and pp. 103-105). They are known with a variety of symbols and monograms, but the letter symbol on this piece is hitherto unknown for this coinage. However, the letters on this coin are more clearly legible on larger pieces: ΠΟ, classified by Price as early posthumous issues from ‘Amphipolis’ (Price 128-141) and it seems certain that that is precisely what they are.