Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 772. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great'. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.29 g, 1h). Uncertain mint in Greece or Macedon. Struck circa 310-275 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / ALEXANDROU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; no back to throne; aplustre in left field. Price 861 and pl. XLI, 861a (same obv. die); SNG München -; SNG Alpha Bank -. Near EF. ($500)

An examination of the plate specimens for this type in Price (861a and 861b) reveals two distinct varieties, delineated by the presence (typical) or absence (rare) of a back to the throne. It is also apparent that there is a wide variation in the style, particularly of the obverse. Clearly both types do not belong to the same issue or mint.