Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3033 8 August 2014
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (23mm, 17.11 gm, 9h). Lifetime issue of 'Amphipolis,' ca. 325-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent, Aegis at base of neck / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath in outstretched right hand and stylis over left shoulder, thunderbolt in left field. Price 163. Müller 1. For the date, see Troxell, p. 128. Boldly struck on a broad flan. An impressive and majestic piece! A few minor field scratches. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, scratches.Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire "liberated" vast stores of gold and silver that had been locked away for centuries in the Great King's treasuries in Sardes, Susa, Persepolis and Babylon. At the beginning of his reign in 336 BC, the Macedonian Kingdom was reportedly in debt to the tune of 500 silver talents (a talent being 6,000 silver drachms and a "king's ransom" in earliest Greek times). To give an idea of the vast loot his conquests amassed, at Susa alone Alexander seized 50,000 talents of silver and 40,000 of gold. This huge intake of bullion resulted in hitherto unseen denominations such as the gold distater, tariffed at two staters and ten silver tetradrachms, about 20 day's wages for a Macedonian soldier during wartime.
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (23mm, 17.11 gm, 9h). Lifetime issue of 'Amphipolis,' ca. 325-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent, Aegis at base of neck / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath in outstretched right hand and stylis over left shoulder, thunderbolt in left field. Price 163. Müller 1. For the date, see Troxell, p. 128. Boldly struck on a broad flan. An impressive and majestic piece! A few minor field scratches. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, scratches.Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire "liberated" vast stores of gold and silver that had been locked away for centuries in the Great King's treasuries in Sardes, Susa, Persepolis and Babylon. At the beginning of his reign in 336 BC, the Macedonian Kingdom was reportedly in debt to the tune of 500 silver talents (a talent being 6,000 silver drachms and a "king's ransom" in earliest Greek times). To give an idea of the vast loot his conquests amassed, at Susa alone Alexander seized 50,000 talents of silver and 40,000 of gold. This huge intake of bullion resulted in hitherto unseen denominations such as the gold distater, tariffed at two staters and ten silver tetradrachms, about 20 day's wages for a Macedonian soldier during wartime.
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD