The present drachm belongs to the extensive group of posthumous issues of Alexander III the Great, struck by his successors after the king’s death in 323 BC. The Herakles and Zeus type continued to bear Alexander’s name, reflecting both the immense prestige of his coinage and its widespread acceptance throughout the Hellenistic world.
The coin was struck at Lampsakos, an important minting centre in Asia Minor situated on the Hellespont. The issue is dated to c. 310–301 BC, during the period of domination of Antigonos I Monophthalmos (the One-Eyed). One of the most powerful of Alexander’s Diadochi, Antigonos initially ruled as Strategos of Asia and, in 306 BC, assumed the royal title together with his son Demetrios Poliorketes.
The obverse depicts the head of Herakles wearing the lion skin, one of the most characteristic motifs of Alexander’s coinage. Herakles held particular importance within Macedonian royal ideology, as the Argead dynasty traditionally claimed descent from the Heraklids.
The reverse depicts Zeus Aetophoros seated on a throne, holding an eagle and sceptre. He is accompanied by the legend AΛEΞANΔPOY – “of Alexander”, although the coin was struck more than a decade after the conqueror’s death. The continued use of Alexander’s types by the Diadochi demonstrates both their economic importance and the enduring political authority associated with his name.
Of particular interest are the control marks of the issue: the forepart of Pegasus in the left field and a monogram beneath the throne of Zeus. Such symbols distinguished individual series produced during the intensive minting activity at Lampsakos.
The chronology of this issue concludes with the Battle of Ipsos in 301 BC, where Antigonos was killed fighting against a coalition of the other Diadochi. His death brought to an end the last major attempt by one of Alexander’s immediate successors to reunite a substantial part of the former empire under a single ruler.
Ex. WCN, e-Auction 504, Lot 209188.
Beautifully preserved specimen.
Greece
Kingdom of Macedon, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Drachm 310-301 BC, Lampsakos mint, struck under Strategos or king of Asia, in the name and types of Alexander III
Obverse: head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress
Reverse: Zeus Aetophoros seated to left, holding sceptre, on the left a half-figure of a Pegasus, under the throne the monogram No
AΛEΞANΔPOY
Diameter 17 mm, weight 4.22 g
