Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 96 14-15 February 2017
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Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander I. Silver Octadrachm (28.06 g), 498-454 BC. Ca. 492-479 BC. Horse standing right; behind, soldier standing right, wearing chlamys and petasos, holding two spears. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square. Raymond pl. II, 4-6; SNG ANS 1 = Rosen 17; SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Lockett 1266; HPM pl. XII, 2 (same obv. die; Bisaltai). Boldly struck and perfectly centered. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $6,000 - 7,000
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from CNG in 1992.
The tribal coinages of Macedonia and Thrace share many common characteristics. This coin clearly points to the existence of some kind of tribal alliance which is hardly surprising in the light of their brief period of issue, probably no more than about three and half decades from the late sixth to the early fifth century BC. The obligation to pay tribute in silver to the Persian Empire led to the production of very large denominations, examples of which are more often found within Achaemenid territory than in their area of manufacture. This silver octadrachm was long attributed to the Bisaltai, a powerful Thraco-Macedonian tribe that occupied land west of the Strymon River, which included the argentiferous mountains separating the Valley of Strymon from Mygdonia. Recent evidence, though, now suggests that this was the earliest issue of Alexander I of Macedon, struck while he was allied with the tribes against the Persians. Out of diplomatic necessity, Alexander would logically strike coins that his allies would find acceptable and familiar. After the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC and following their retreat into Asia Minor, Alexander I acquired all of the Bisaltai territory as far the Strymon, including the silver-rich mines. At some point afterwards, he began adding his name to the reverse (cf. ACGC 495).
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from CNG in 1992.
The tribal coinages of Macedonia and Thrace share many common characteristics. This coin clearly points to the existence of some kind of tribal alliance which is hardly surprising in the light of their brief period of issue, probably no more than about three and half decades from the late sixth to the early fifth century BC. The obligation to pay tribute in silver to the Persian Empire led to the production of very large denominations, examples of which are more often found within Achaemenid territory than in their area of manufacture. This silver octadrachm was long attributed to the Bisaltai, a powerful Thraco-Macedonian tribe that occupied land west of the Strymon River, which included the argentiferous mountains separating the Valley of Strymon from Mygdonia. Recent evidence, though, now suggests that this was the earliest issue of Alexander I of Macedon, struck while he was allied with the tribes against the Persians. Out of diplomatic necessity, Alexander would logically strike coins that his allies would find acceptable and familiar. After the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC and following their retreat into Asia Minor, Alexander I acquired all of the Bisaltai territory as far the Strymon, including the silver-rich mines. At some point afterwards, he began adding his name to the reverse (cf. ACGC 495).