CNG 91, Lot: 144. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Antigonos I Monophthalmos – Lysimachos. Circa 310-290 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.13 g, 11h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; astragalos in left field. Unpublished. Superb EF.

Ex Patrick H.C. Tan Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 84, 5 May 2010), lot 300; Classical Numismatic Group 42 (29 May 1997), lot 254.

The astragalos is only known for issues of Babylon and an uncertain mint (Price 4032). However, the style of the present coin certainly discounts an attribution to Babylon, and while the Price 4032 type is not illustrated anywhere, the appearance of other control marks on that coin suggests that it may not be a related issue. In the prior sale of this coin, it was speculated that this is an issue of Selge in Pisidia, which commonly featured astragaloi on its coinage. However, Selge is not known to have issued any Alexander coinage, and for such an early issue as this coin one cannot assume any symbol is a civic badge. In contrast, the style and fabric suggest this coin was issued at a western, rather that southern, mint in Asia Minor.