Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 529 14 Dec 2022
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UNCERTAIN EAST. 3rd-2nd centuries BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.08 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, lion-skin draped over club. Price 4058. Toned, deposits, slightly off center on reverse. VF. Rare.
The present coin is part of a series of Alexandrine tetradrachms featuring an unusual obverse style and light weight (averaging between 15.5 and 16.5 grams), as well as a variety of symbols in the left field on the reverse: lion-skin over club [Price 4058], dolphin downward [Price 4058A (cf. Lanz 161, lot 15)], wreath [Price B36], two dolphins entwined over wreath [present coin], and thunderbolt [CNG 90, lot 752, and Rauch Summer Auction 2010, lot 54]. While the light weight and style suggest an origin among the eastern Celts, the consistency of the style and proper epigraphy suggest a more formally organized mint, unlike definitively Celtic issues that attempt just to copy existing Alexanders (or are clearly blundered).
The present coin is part of a series of Alexandrine tetradrachms featuring an unusual obverse style and light weight (averaging between 15.5 and 16.5 grams), as well as a variety of symbols in the left field on the reverse: lion-skin over club [Price 4058], dolphin downward [Price 4058A (cf. Lanz 161, lot 15)], wreath [Price B36], two dolphins entwined over wreath [present coin], and thunderbolt [CNG 90, lot 752, and Rauch Summer Auction 2010, lot 54]. While the light weight and style suggest an origin among the eastern Celts, the consistency of the style and proper epigraphy suggest a more formally organized mint, unlike definitively Celtic issues that attempt just to copy existing Alexanders (or are clearly blundered).