Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 439. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.72 g, 12h). Susa mint. Struck circa 325-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; monogram in left field, monogram below throne. Price 3829 var. (left field monogram). Good VF, toned, light scratch in field on reverse. Rare.

There is a wide variation in the weights of the early Alexandrine tetradrachms of Susa, with some in the normal Attic weight range and others falling in the mid-16 g to mid-15 g range. Unfortunately, the early coinage of Alexander III from Susa is fairly rare, preempting a good understanding of these series. A plausible theory is that the lower weight specimens were struck on the native Persic standard. We know that at other mints, such as Babylon, the native, Persic weight Baal-lion staters were produced alongside the Alexandrine coinage, ostensibly for local use. It is possible, therefore, that a local coinage was also made on this standard at Susa, but for some reason was struck in Alexandrine type.