Triton XXI, Lot: 403. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.02 g, 11h). In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Ekbatana mint. Struck under Peithon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; wreath in left field; below throne, E above strut, monogram below. Unpublished. EF, lightly toned, a couple minor flaws, a little horn silver. Obverse in high relief, on an oversized flan. Extremely rare.

The control marks suggest a Seleukid issue from Susa (cf. SC 164 Group 1), but the style here is too far from the norm at that mint. The style closely resembles the rare pre-Seleukid tetradrachm issue at Ekbatana (Price 3956), as well as the earliest issues struck under Seleukos I (SC 202.1–2). As the control marks for Ekbatana under the Seleukids are well attested, and do not resemble those on the present piece, this tetradrachm is likely from the pre-Seleukid period of the mint.