Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 472 15 Jul 2020
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IONIA, Uncertain. Early-mid 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 4.01 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, M above bull recumbent right. Cf. Bauslaugh, Posthumous, Series 2B, for similar style; otherwise unpublished. Lightly toned, small area of weak strike. Good VF.
This issue is part of a series that is obverse die linked to an issue that has a similar control marking, with the M above a grape bunch. Bauslaugh considered that issue to be imitations of Chios (see note 5 in Bauslaugh), though he gives no reasoning for this designation. Clearly, the style of all these drachms comport with that found on the issues he considered official, and there are no misspellings of the royal name. In any vase, he may be correct, as the changing symbol below the M suggests that the symbol on these drachms is not indicative of the mint (where the grapes on the official issues of Chios are the mint mark). At the same time, it is also possible that these coins are struck from dies produced by a celator who made dies for more than one mint. In any event, the style, weight, and general region of issue suggest they were struck relative to the Celtic invasions of western Asia Minor in the early 3rd century BC, but further study is necessary for a better understanding of this series.
This issue is part of a series that is obverse die linked to an issue that has a similar control marking, with the M above a grape bunch. Bauslaugh considered that issue to be imitations of Chios (see note 5 in Bauslaugh), though he gives no reasoning for this designation. Clearly, the style of all these drachms comport with that found on the issues he considered official, and there are no misspellings of the royal name. In any vase, he may be correct, as the changing symbol below the M suggests that the symbol on these drachms is not indicative of the mint (where the grapes on the official issues of Chios are the mint mark). At the same time, it is also possible that these coins are struck from dies produced by a celator who made dies for more than one mint. In any event, the style, weight, and general region of issue suggest they were struck relative to the Celtic invasions of western Asia Minor in the early 3rd century BC, but further study is necessary for a better understanding of this series.