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Ancient Coins
C
HOICE
Q
UALITY
T
RIBAL
S
ILVER
O
CTADRACHM OF
A
LEXANDER
I, 498-454 BC
Enlargement
1575 Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander I. Silver Octadrachm (28.06 g), 498-454 BC
. Ca. 492-479 BC. Horse standing right; behind, soldier
standing right, wearing chlamys and petasos, holding two spears.
Reverse:
Quadripartite incuse square. Raymond pl. II, 4-6; SNG ANS 1 = Rosen
17; SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Lockett 1266; HPM pl. XII, 2 (same obv. die; Bisaltai). Boldly struck and perfectly centered.
Nearly Extremely Fine
.
Estimate Value .......................................................................................................................................................................$6,000 - 7,000
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from CNG in 1992.
The tribal coinages of Macedonia and Thrace share many common characteristics. This coin clearly points to the existence of some kind of tribal
alliance which is hardly surprising in the light of their brief period of issue, probably no more than about three and half decades from the late sixth
to the early fifth century BC. The obligation to pay tribute in silver to the Persian Empire led to the production of very large denominations, exam-
ples of which are more often found within Achaemenid territory than in their area of manufacture. This silver octadrachm was long attributed to
the Bisaltai, a powerful Thraco-Macedonian tribe that occupied land west of the Strymon River, which included the argentiferous mountains sepa-
rating the Valley of Strymon from Mygdonia. Recent evidence, though, now suggests that this was the earliest issue of Alexander I of Macedon,
struck while he was allied with the tribes against the Persians. Out of diplomatic necessity, Alexander would logically strike coins that his allies
would find acceptable and familiar. After the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC and following their retreat into Asia Minor,
Alexander I acquired all of the Bisaltai territory as far the Strymon, including the silver-rich mines. At some point afterwards, he began adding his
name to the reverse (cf.
ACGC
495).
Enlargement
1576 Macedonian Kingdom. Perdikkas II. Silver Tetrobol (2.24 g), 451-413 BC
. 443/2-438/7 BC. Horseman carrying two spears on horse
walking right.
Reverse:
Forepart of a lion right within incuse square. Raymond 120 (same obv. die); SNG ANS 47-51.
Rare.
Lightly toned.
Choice
Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ............................................................................................................................................................................ $250 - 300
From the Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from F. Kovacs in the 1990s.
1577
Macedonian Kingdom. Amyntas III. Silver Stater (9.34
g), 394/3-370/69 BC
. Aigai. Head of Herakles right, wearing
lion' s skin headdress.
Reverse:
-
, horse standing right
in linear square within incuse square. Westermark pl. LXX, 32;
SNG ANS 87-93; SNG Alpha Bank 189-96. Nicely toned.
Fine to
Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ..................................................... $250 - 300
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from Victor
England in 1986.