Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 559 3 Apr 2024
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PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 220-212/1 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.50 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Undated issue. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, AΣ above monogram. Unpublished. Some roughness and porosity. VF. Apparently unique.
Before the appearance of this coin, there were no known undated Alexander-type tetradrachms from Aspendos. The style here is consistent with issues of Aspendos, but the AΣ is conjoined, a feature that is not found on the published examples. While this suggests that this coin may actually be an unknown issue from another mint, this tetradrachm appeared on the market along with a group of other dated Alexanders from mints in western and southern Asia Minor, including many from Aspendos. It is possible that the monogram is a combination of the letters IA, which would equate to a date of CY 11, but the curved form of the crossbar in the letter A suggests that this reading is incorrect, and no other issue has a date in monogram form. If the coin is from Aspendos, it is more likely to have been from an issue preceding the dated series, rather than following, when the cistophoric standard came into use in the region, and the production of Alexanders generally ceased.
Before the appearance of this coin, there were no known undated Alexander-type tetradrachms from Aspendos. The style here is consistent with issues of Aspendos, but the AΣ is conjoined, a feature that is not found on the published examples. While this suggests that this coin may actually be an unknown issue from another mint, this tetradrachm appeared on the market along with a group of other dated Alexanders from mints in western and southern Asia Minor, including many from Aspendos. It is possible that the monogram is a combination of the letters IA, which would equate to a date of CY 11, but the curved form of the crossbar in the letter A suggests that this reading is incorrect, and no other issue has a date in monogram form. If the coin is from Aspendos, it is more likely to have been from an issue preceding the dated series, rather than following, when the cistophoric standard came into use in the region, and the production of Alexanders generally ceased.