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Research Coins: Affiliated Auction

 
Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 75. Estimate CHF45000. 
Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011. 
Sold For CHF68000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of EPEIROS. Alexander. 350-330 BC. Stater (Silver, 10.92 g 2), Corcyran standard, Tarentum, possibly by the famous Tarentine Kal... engraver, struck circa 334-330 BC. Bearded head of Zeus Dodonaios to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟ[Υ] / ΤΟΥ ΝΕΟΠΤΟΛΕ[ΜΟΥ] Thunderbolt shown vertically; to left, eagle with closed wings standing left. Kunstfreund 196 (this coin). Traité IV, 331 and pl. CCLXXXIII, 4 (same obverse die). Vlasto 1868. Extremely rare. Of superb late classical style, beautifully struck and nicely toned. Extremely fine.


From the Mieza collection, USA, ex Nomos 2, 18 May 2010, 68, Numismatica Ars Classica 9, 16 April 1996, 32, Monnaies et Médailles 75, 4 December 1989, 235 and from the collection of C. Gillet, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974, 196.

Alexander the Molossian was not only the King of Epeiros but also, through his sister Olympias, the brother-in-law of Philip II of Macedon and the uncle of Alexander III. This made him want to make his mark as well, which he did in 334 BC by leading an army to save Tarentum from the local tribal groups that were pressing the city; he was killed in a minor engagement in 330. This coin was struck in Tarentum to pay his troops: the artistry is superb.