KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. As Satrap, 323-305 BC. AR Tetrobol (14mm, 2.19 g, 3h). In the types of Philip II of Macedon, with the name of Alexander. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Kassander, circa 320-315 BC. Near VF.

Electronic Auction 550
Lot: 53. Estimated: $ 150

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. As Satrap, 323-305 BC. AR Tetrobol (14mm, 2.19 g, 3h). In the types of Philip II of Macedon, with the name of Alexander. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Kassander, circa 320-315 BC. Diademed head of Apollo right / Nude youth on horseback right; AΛEΞANΔPOY above; below, ΛY and forepart of lion right; [trident head in exergue]. Thompson –; Müller p. 39; Price 435; HGC 3, 1746 (this coin illustrated). Toned, porous, numerous cleaning scratches. Near VF. Very rare with the name of Alexander.

Ex Robert A. Weimer Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 73, 13 September 2006), lot 112.

H. Müller was the first to recognize that Lysimachos’ coinage began with a series of silver tetrobols and bronze coinage based on the types of Philip II of Macedon with an ΛY and forepart of a lion as control marks. This coinage began with Philip's name on the reverse and the control marks below the horseman, but die links confirm that eventually the ΛY was moved above the horseman, replacing Philip's name. At some point in this process there was also an issue where the name of Alexander replaced that of Philip, but as yet no evidence has confirmed when this occurred. Although these coins have traditionally been attributed to the beginning of Lysimachos' reign as king of Thrace, more recent scholarship has persuasively placed them early in the period of his satrapy. Price, in his study of the coinage of Alexander the Great and Philip III, discounts the prior dating (circa 306/5 BC) and mint attribution (Lysimacheia), and places the issue at Amphipolis, circa 320-315 BC. During this time, Lysimachos was waging war against the Thracian tribes and likely needed coinage for troop payments. The only source for him at that time was his close friend Kassander, who controlled the mint at Amphipolis. This placement and dating conform well to the current scholarship regarding the minting of Philip II-type tetrobols (1/5th tetradrachms). For further background, see, e.g., Price, pp. 130 and 197; AMNG III, p. 171; and H. Lund, Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship (Routledge, 1992), p. 57.

Closing Date and Time: 15 November 2023 at 10:17:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.