This intriguing coin is from an extremely rare issue comprising gold staters and silver tetradrachms struck at the mint of Lysimacheia within the few months between Lysimachos' death at Korupedion in 281 BC and the city's autonomous period that began in 280 BC. During this time, the city was first under the control of Seleukos I and then his assassin, Ptolemy Keraunos, the eldest son of Ptolemy I of Egypt. While the elephant is undoubtedly one of the personal symbols of Seleukos, A. Houghton is certain that the issue is not an official Seleukid emission. Hollstein has argued convincingly that Keraunos was the issuer, using Lysimachos’ types because he styled himself the heir of Lysimachos. The elephant symbol is a reference to the war elephants held by Keraunos, who is reported to have supplied 50 of the beasts to Pyrrhos for his Italian expedition. An historically significant piece from the turbulent period of the Diadochs.
KINGS of MACEDON. Ptolemy Keraunos. 281-279 BC. AV Stater (8.58g, 6h). Struck in the name of Lysimachos of Thrace, 281-280 BC. Lysimacheia mint. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right / Athena Nikephoros seated left; to inner left, lion’s head left above elephant standing right; QE monogram on throne. Hollstein p. 14, fig. 3 = Leu 50 (25 April 1990), lot 93 (same dies).
