Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 285. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.17 g, 6h). ‘Amphipolis’ mint. Struck under Kassander, Philip IV, or Alexander (son of Kassander), circa 315-294 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, L above bucranium; E below throne. Price 432. VF.

In his study on the coinage of Alexander the Great, Price correctly places the lambda-bucranium series (Price issues 429-433) prior to the lambda-torch series (Price issues 438-497). However, he separates the two series into two succeeding time periods, circa 320-315 BC and circa 315-294 BC, respectively. These dates are assigned on the basis of an admittedly tenuous link between his issues 428 and 429, both of which have an A below the throne (though on the latter, the A is in a wreath). However, it is more significant that four of the five subsidiary symbols of the lambda-bucranium series are shared by the early issues of the lambda-torch series. Moreover, Price issues 421-428 have the royal title, which is not present on either lambda series. In her study of the Macedonian mints, H. Troxell has conclusively placed Price's 421-428 circa 318-317 BC, and moved a number of his other issues into the succeeding period, circa 317-315 BC. With the tenuous link between Price 428 and 429 effectively broken, the lambda-bucranium series must be moved to the period circa 315-294 BC, either preceding or concurrent with the earliest issues of the lambda-torch series.