Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 462 26 Feb 2020
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KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Kassander. Circa 325-310 BC. AR Fifth Tetradrachm (14mm, 2.45 g, 8h). In the types of Philip II. Pella or Amphipolis mint. Head of male right, wearing tainia / Rider on horse prancing right; dolphin below. Unpublished. Toned, light porosity. VF. Apparently unique.
The placement of this interesting new issue is difficult. The fifth tetradrachms typically are marked with controls that correspond to contemporary issues of tetradrachms. Thus, the present piece should correspond to the Pella tetradrachms of Le Rider 410–17. However, there are no fifths that correspond to any tetradrachms from Pella's Group II coinage (under Alexander III), where those issues are placed, and the style of this fifth is identical to those of Amphipolis, not Pella. Stylistically, the obverse style is identical to the Period III fifths of the Amphipolis mint (cf. Le Rider pls. 44–6, under Philip III and Kassander). However, the fifths of this period have complex dual-control marks, and the single dolphin control of the present coin does not fit in that scheme.
The placement of this interesting new issue is difficult. The fifth tetradrachms typically are marked with controls that correspond to contemporary issues of tetradrachms. Thus, the present piece should correspond to the Pella tetradrachms of Le Rider 410–17. However, there are no fifths that correspond to any tetradrachms from Pella's Group II coinage (under Alexander III), where those issues are placed, and the style of this fifth is identical to those of Amphipolis, not Pella. Stylistically, the obverse style is identical to the Period III fifths of the Amphipolis mint (cf. Le Rider pls. 44–6, under Philip III and Kassander). However, the fifths of this period have complex dual-control marks, and the single dolphin control of the present coin does not fit in that scheme.