Greek Coins
Some coins from various ancient Greek Empires
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Some coins from various ancient Greek Empires.
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1. Alexander the Great Stater Babylon
Gold, 20 mm, 8.56 gm
Struck: BC 311-305 (about) Babylon Helmeted head of Athena facing right with griffin or serpent on helmet Nike standing left, holding wreath, MI on left, monogram in wreath below right wing BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (King Alexander) 2. Athens Classical Owl Tetradrachm
Silver, 23 mm, 17.18 gm, struck around BC 430
Head of Athena facing right with beaded necklace, three small upright olive leaves on front edge of Attic helmet Owl leaning right, head facing, olive twig with two leaves and crescent moon Legend AΘE (Ethnic legend)
A tetradrachm was four drachms, a drachm was a standard Greek coin at the time.
3. Alexander the Great Tetradrachm Babylon Lifetime issue
Silver, 27 mm, 17.10 gm
Struck: BC 325-323 Babylon Head of Alexander facing right as Herakles wearing lion-skin headdress Zeus seated left holding eagle in right hand and scepter in left hand Astragalos and M in left field, monogram (WΦ) under throne AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander)
English name: Alexander III (The Great)
Greek name: Meγaς Aλeξanδpoς Life span: BC 356-323 An astragalos was a gaming piece made from the knuckle-bone of a sheep or goat. 4. Alexander the Great Tetradrachm Carrhae
Silver, 27 mm, 17.15 gm
Struck: BC 315-305 Carrhae Head of Herakles facing right wearing lion skin Zeus seated left holding eagle in right hand and scepter in left hand ΣΩ in left field, ΣP monogram under throne AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander) 5. Alexander the Great Tetradrachm Lifetime issue (Worn)
Silver, 24 mm, 16.23 gm
Struck: BC 336-323 Head of Alexander as Herakles facing right wearing lion-skin headdress Zeus seated left holding eagle in right hand and scepter in left hand Thunderbolt in left field AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander) 6. Lysimachus Tetradrachm Amphipolis Thrace
Silver, 30 mm, 17.14 gm
Struck: BC 288-281 (about) Amphipolis Head of Alexander the Great facing right wearing the Horn of Ammon Athena left on throne, resting left arm on shield, spear resting against right side Nike crowning name BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ (King Lysimachus) Monogram ΠΥΘ on left, ΚΟ on right ΗΜ monogram in exergue
English name: Lysimachus or Lysimachos
Greek name: Λυσιμαχος Life span: BC 362/361-281 Lysimachus was one of Alexander's bodyguards, a successor, and later ruler of Macedonia. 7. Kassander Copper Horseman
Bronze, 20 mm, 6.51 gm
Struck: BC 306-297 (about) Pella or Amphipolis Head of Herakles facing right wearing lion skin Horseman facing right, possibly Alexander on his horse Bucephalus BAΣIΛEΩΣ KΑΣΣΑΝΔΡOY (King Kassander) T above, star right, Λ below
English name: Kassander
Greek name: Kασσανδρoς
Life span: BC 350-297
Kassander was the son of one of Alexander's generals and later ruler of Macedonia.
8. Syracuse Sicily Bronze Tetras Octopus
Bronze, 15 mm, 3.84 gm
Struck: BC 425-420 Syracuse mint Head of Arethusa right with dolphins Inscription ΣΥΡΑ (SYRAcuse) to right of head Octopus
A tetras was 1/4 of an obol, an obol was 1/6 of a drachm.
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Cistophoric Tetradrachms:
The cistophorus was a coin of ancient Pergamon which circulated in Asia Minor up to the time of the Romans.
Pergamon was a city in Mysia located near the Aegean Sea coast near the island of Lesbos.
9. Cistophoric Tetradrachm of Pergamon Mysia, BC 166 to 67
Silver, 25 mm, 12.20 gm, SNG (Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum) France 1752
Struck BC 166 to 67, Pergamon Cista mystica within wreath with serpent emerging from it. Bow case with two entwined serpents around it. Monogram of Pergamon ΠΕΡ to left Staff and serpent to right, monogram ΤΗ ΠΡΥ above 10. Cistophoric Tetradrachm of Ephesus Ionia, BC 83 to 82
Silver, 26 mm, 12.44 gm, SNG (Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum) Copenhagen 330
Struck: BC 83 to 82 Ephesus Cista mystica within wreath with serpent emerging from it Bow case with two entwined serpents around it, headdress of Isis above |
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Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt:
The Ptolemaic Kingdom was an ancient Greek state based in Egypt. It was founded in BC 305 by
Alexander the Great's general Ptolemy I Soter, and lasted until the death of Queen Cleopatra in BC 30.
11. Ptolemaic Kingdom Egypt Bronze Ptolemy II Philadelphos BC 285-246
Bronze, 28 mm, 22.56 gm, SNG Copenhagen 156
Struck: BC 267 Alexandria Laureate head of Zeus-Ammon facing right Eagle with folded wings standing left on thunderbolt, Δ between legs ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (Ptolemy King) 12. Ptolemaic Kingdom Egypt Bronze Ptolemy IX to XII BC 116-51
Bronze, 20 mm, 7.02 gm, SNG Copenhagen 311-4
Struck: BC 116-51 Alexandria Laureate head of Zeus-Ammon right Two eagles with wings closed standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (Ptolemy King) |
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