The New York Sale
Auction 40 11 January 2017
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ANCIENT COINS, ANCIENT GREEK COINS, Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander III 'the Great'. Gold Distater (17.17 g), 336-323 BC. Amphipolis mint, ca. 322-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent. Rev. , Nike standing facing, head left, holding wreath and stylis; in left field, thunderbolt. (Price 163; Troxell grp. C, 545 (dies DO1/DF2)). Well struck with underlying luster. Extremely fine.
Although this beautiful distater features the Athena and Nike types popularized by Alexander the Great as a symbol of his pan-Hellenic campaign to exact revenge from the Persians for their past offenses against the Greeks, it was struck as the illusory unity of Alexander's vast empire was crumbling to pieces and his former generals went to war with one another to carve out their own lesser kingdoms. This particular piece was struck after Alexander's death when Philip III was king and while either Antipater or his appointed successor, Polyperchon, served as regent. Indeed, Antipater's appointment of Polyperchon, which overlooked his own son Kassander, became yet another point of division that fueled the early wars of the Successors.
Estimate: $ 15,000
Although this beautiful distater features the Athena and Nike types popularized by Alexander the Great as a symbol of his pan-Hellenic campaign to exact revenge from the Persians for their past offenses against the Greeks, it was struck as the illusory unity of Alexander's vast empire was crumbling to pieces and his former generals went to war with one another to carve out their own lesser kingdoms. This particular piece was struck after Alexander's death when Philip III was king and while either Antipater or his appointed successor, Polyperchon, served as regent. Indeed, Antipater's appointment of Polyperchon, which overlooked his own son Kassander, became yet another point of division that fueled the early wars of the Successors.
Estimate: $ 15,000