Anepigraphic Alexander Type

CNG 106, Lot: 192. Estimate $500. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.10 g, 11h). Anepigraphic issue. Kolophon mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; ivy leaf below throne. Cf. Price 1764 corr. (position of ivy leaf; in name of Alexander, spearhead to outer right); CNG 70, lot 99 var. (same; same obv. die); otherwise unpublished. VF, toned. Apparently unique.

From the Jonathan K. Kern Collection.

Although a reverse die match has not yet been identified, the die must have been engraved by the same hand as BM 2002,0101.375 and Münz Zentrum FPL 26 (1977), no. 38 (the latter of which was struck by the same obverse die as the present coin). Kolophon was one of the most prolific of the Alexander “drachm mints,” and is represented in most hoards of Alexander drachms. The present piece is likely an erroneous strike employing an unfinished die, rather than an intentional issue. The rarity of the type would thus be explained by the likelihood that the mistake was discovered and corrected after only a small number of strikes.