Lot 1826

Description

Macedon, Kingdom of, Alexander III, (336-323 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.2 grams), Pella mint, issued c.275-270 B..C., obv. head of Herakles to right wearing lion skin with dotted border, rev. Zeus seated on throne to left, eagle in outstretched hand, crested helmet to left, to right **ALEXANDROU, below throne oK monogram, (cf.S.6713, Price 621, BMC 621a-b, M.230, SNG Cop. 713). Attractive well centred, very fine - good very fine, scarce.

This issue in the name of Alexander the Great is a posthumous issue struck by and attributed to Antigonus Gonatas (277-239 B.C.), king of Macedon and son of Demetrius Poliorcetes. The series of Macedonian coins of this period given to this king is extensively discussed by Ralph W. Mathisen, 'Macedonian Silver of Antigonus Gonatas', published in Museum Notes 26 (1981), pp.79-123.