Nomos AG
Auction 14 17 May 2017
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KINGS of MACEDON, Alexander III 'the Great', 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26mm, 17.24 g 11), Memphis, c. 332-323. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle standing right with closed wings; to left, ram's head right with Isis crown; below throne, Δ monogram. Price 3964. A wonderful, spectacular coin, beautifully toned, of splendid style, and struck in high relief. Very small scuff on the obverse and minor scratches on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.
From the Stoecklin Collection, received as a present from Dr. Naegeli in Zürich on 22 February 1950.
The tetradrachms of Alexander from the mint of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, are surely the most dramatically beautiful of all the coins struck in his name during his lifetime. The had previously been attributed to the king's new city of Alexandria, but it seems that the satrapy's governor preferred to retain the old mint used in Persian times since Memphis still remained Egypt's administrative center. The ability of the die engravers responsible for this issue was truly outstanding - the coins they produced have a majestic power, which is enhanced by their often extremely high relief. In fact, they have a sculptural quality that is quite different from the Alexander tetradrachms struck elsewhere. Stylistically this is one of the finest silver coins of Alexander ever made.Dr. Stoecklin Senior must have been very excited by Alexander's issues from Memphis: not only did he have the two splendid pieces here and in the following lot, there are another two below, 176 & 177 under Egypt (one struck under Alexander and the other during the reign of Philip III)
From the Stoecklin Collection, received as a present from Dr. Naegeli in Zürich on 22 February 1950.
The tetradrachms of Alexander from the mint of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, are surely the most dramatically beautiful of all the coins struck in his name during his lifetime. The had previously been attributed to the king's new city of Alexandria, but it seems that the satrapy's governor preferred to retain the old mint used in Persian times since Memphis still remained Egypt's administrative center. The ability of the die engravers responsible for this issue was truly outstanding - the coins they produced have a majestic power, which is enhanced by their often extremely high relief. In fact, they have a sculptural quality that is quite different from the Alexander tetradrachms struck elsewhere. Stylistically this is one of the finest silver coins of Alexander ever made.Dr. Stoecklin Senior must have been very excited by Alexander's issues from Memphis: not only did he have the two splendid pieces here and in the following lot, there are another two below, 176 & 177 under Egypt (one struck under Alexander and the other during the reign of Philip III)