Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AR tetradrachm (25mm, 16.98 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, Fine Style. Lifetime or early posthumous issue of Memphis (or Alexandria), ca. 325-318 BC. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion-skin headdress / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; rose in left field; ΔI-O under throne. Price 3971. Peripheral reverse porosity, otherwise struck from dies of wonderful style.
Among his early conquests, Alexander recognized the vast potential of Egypt and initiated construction of a new capital, Alexandria, that would quickly become the greatest city of the Hellenistic world. A mint was also set up at the former Egyptian capital of Memphis to produce coins to pay his army. The new mint employed at least one die engraver of exceptional talent, who later moved on the new mint established at Alexandria shortly after the conqueror's death. The silver tetradrachms from Memphis (possibly continuing after the transfer to Alexandria) are now recognized as some of the most beautiful coins produced anywhere in the vast Macedonian Empire.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1300 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AR tetradrachm (25mm, 16.98 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, Fine Style. Lifetime or early posthumous issue of Memphis (or Alexandria), ca. 325-318 BC. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion-skin headdress / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; rose in left field; ΔI-O under throne. Price 3971. Peripheral reverse porosity, otherwise struck from dies of wonderful style.
Among his early conquests, Alexander recognized the vast potential of Egypt and initiated construction of a new capital, Alexandria, that would quickly become the greatest city of the Hellenistic world. A mint was also set up at the former Egyptian capital of Memphis to produce coins to pay his army. The new mint employed at least one die engraver of exceptional talent, who later moved on the new mint established at Alexandria shortly after the conqueror's death. The silver tetradrachms from Memphis (possibly continuing after the transfer to Alexandria) are now recognized as some of the most beautiful coins produced anywhere in the vast Macedonian Empire.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1300 USD