Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander III 'the Great'. Gold Stater (8.58 g), 336-323 BC. Mint of Lampsakos, ca. 328/5-323 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right, coiled serpent on bowl of helmet.
Reverse: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; in left field, conjoined horse foreparts; below monogram. Price 1358. Finest Style.
Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $7,500 - UP
This late in life stater features the imperial types that Alexander the Great established for his gold coinage at the outset of his reign. It is generally thought that they alluded to his characterization of his grand campaign against the Persian Empire as a Greek war of revenge for Xerxes' failed invasion of mainland Greece in 480-479 BC. The head of Athena refers to the Persian destruction of Athens while Nike holding a stylis (i.e., a ship's mast) recalls the naval victories at Salamis and Mykale that ultimately forced the withdrawal of the Persians from Greece. This gold stater was struck before he abandoned the revenge motive for the conquest. Indeed, at the end of his life he was actively trying (and failing) to unite Macedonian and Persian in his army and his wider empire. In this project he was way ahead of his time and deep resentment in the army has informed the ancient rumors that Alexander did not die of illness, but was actually poisoned. This particular issue is usually attributed to Nikokereon of Salamis, a Cypriot city-king who wisely paid homage to Alexander while he was besieging Tyre in 331 BC. In return, Alexander permitted him to retain his kingdom. After the death of Alexander, in 315 BC. Nikokeron supported Ptolemy in overthrowing other city-kings of Cyprus who were allied with his dangerous rival, Antigonos Monophthalmos. He was subsequently rewarded by being made king not only of Salamis, but also of Kition, Lapithos, Keryneia, and Marion. This stater may have been struck in the context of the conflict that raised Nikokreon to be ruler of all Cyprus.
Ex Goldberg's Auction 128, lot 909 (realized $13,800).
Ancient Coins
