Alexander the Great Tetradrachm... how did I do?

GoldenEyeNumismatics

I'm just starting out with ancients. I'm most attracted to the Greek tetradrachms. I picked this piece up at a show today for $875.... how did I do?

STONE

Macedonian Kings, Alexander the Great

Will, this is a popular issue among collectors for both the size of the coin and the design elements.
Although not "common" by today's standards, they seem to be relatively available in the market.
The price you paid seems pretty good for what appears to be an Unc/AU specimen.

Silvereagle82

I say you did .... A+

Hussulo

I don't know much about ancients but I really like the design of that one. Amazing detail.

coinkat

Nice looking coin- not sure of the value- maybe CIVITAS, among others, will help on that score

JZrarities

Nice piece. I think you did great.
I don't have a copy of the 'Price' book to lookup the mint.
Was the mint location listed on the flip, as I don't recognize the circle under the chair
and nothing in the field under the eagle.

Here's a good Alexander website

And ocourse the Alex III link on Windwinds

bidask

I don't know anything on ancients but that is a nice looking coin.

Swampboy

Wow.
Even with slight obv offset I'd say that piece looks 'well centered' from the way it was struck.
Great detail on the portrait and an amazing reverse..
Any idea which mint?

DennisH

For whatever reference help this might be, I bought this one 9 years ago for $225:

CIVITAS

That's a theta underneath the throne. Style is Macedonian, probably Amphipolis or Pella mint.

Nice detail and extremely well centered reverse. Looks to be good metal and nice style.

Did you buy from a reputable source? The graininess and softness of the reverse bother me just a touch. I see no problems with the obverse, so maybe it's just illusion/compression/lighting from the digital photo that is throwing my eye off a bit.

I can see a coin of this quality selling for 500-700 euros at auction, so $875 is a fair price.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

<< <i>That's a theta underneath the throne. Style is Macedonian, probably Amphipolis or Pella mint.

Nice detail and extremely well centered reverse. Looks to be good metal and nice style.

Did you buy from a reputable source? The graininess and softness of the reverse bother me just a touch. I see no problems with the obverse, so maybe it's just illusion/compression/lighting from the digital photo that is throwing my eye off a bit.

I can see a coin of this quality selling for 500-700 euros at auction, so $875 is a fair price. >>



Yes, it's from a very reputable source. The graininess on the reverse is a result of lighting---for the obverse pics I used two 100 watt bulbs, and I didn't use them for the reverse shot (they caused too much glare).

reidgold

This is a coin from Alexander's homeland of Macedonia. The late Martin Price, the still reigning arbiter of coins Alexander, gives it to Macedonia's capital of Pella and dates it to c. 325-315 BC. which means it could have been minted slightly before his death in 323 BC or afterward. Price felt Alexander's main Macedonia mint was in Amphipolis, site of an important Macedonian naval base during Alexander's lifetime. Your coin can be attributed as Price 214 and SNG Cop. 710.

Georges Le Rider, the great French numismatist, on the other hand believes that all of Alexander's Macedonian silver tetradrachms, including your piece, were minted at Amphipolis, with his Macedonian gold coinage minted at Pella. So you can attribute your coin either way, or more broadly just to Macedonia since the jury is still out, though most collectors and dealers still follow Price.

Good preservation, slightly off centered obverse (not a big distraction at all), attractive styling, particularly the flamboyantly rendered reverse. Nice coin, overall, a worthy centerpiece to a newly formed collection.