Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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THRACIAN KINGDOM. Lysimachus (323-281 BC). AR tetradrachm (28mm, 17.15 gm, 1h). Uncertain mint, possibly Pella. Diademed head of deified Alexander right, wearing horn of Ammon, Π (engraver's signature?) on diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧOΥ, helmeted Athena seated left, holding Victory in right hand and resting left arm on shield decorated with lion's head, spear leaned against seat, monograms in inner left and right fields. Müller --, cf. 490 (similar monograms). Thompson --. A tetradrachm of tremendous style, detailed strike and wonderful toning. Apparently unrecorded with Π on diadem! Choice Nearly Extremely Fine. From The Lexington Collection. The Π (pi) quite clearly on the upper portion of Alexander's diadem appears to have gone unnoticed in previous descriptions of Lysimachus' coinage. It is difficult to conceive that is anything other than the furtive one-letter signature of the master engraver who cut this superb obverse die. A similar style has been noted for the mint of Pella, and it is also just possible that the letter on the diadem might be a form of mint mark; however this would be contrary to established practice of the period in which all indications of the mint location (in the form of symbols, letters, monograms etc.) were placed on the reverse.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD
THRACIAN KINGDOM. Lysimachus (323-281 BC). AR tetradrachm (28mm, 17.15 gm, 1h). Uncertain mint, possibly Pella. Diademed head of deified Alexander right, wearing horn of Ammon, Π (engraver's signature?) on diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧOΥ, helmeted Athena seated left, holding Victory in right hand and resting left arm on shield decorated with lion's head, spear leaned against seat, monograms in inner left and right fields. Müller --, cf. 490 (similar monograms). Thompson --. A tetradrachm of tremendous style, detailed strike and wonderful toning. Apparently unrecorded with Π on diadem! Choice Nearly Extremely Fine. From The Lexington Collection. The Π (pi) quite clearly on the upper portion of Alexander's diadem appears to have gone unnoticed in previous descriptions of Lysimachus' coinage. It is difficult to conceive that is anything other than the furtive one-letter signature of the master engraver who cut this superb obverse die. A similar style has been noted for the mint of Pella, and it is also just possible that the letter on the diadem might be a form of mint mark; however this would be contrary to established practice of the period in which all indications of the mint location (in the form of symbols, letters, monograms etc.) were placed on the reverse.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD