KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great', 336-323 BC

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great', 336-323 BC. Stater (Gold, 18 mm, 8.60 g, 3 h), Tarsos, struck under Balakros or Menes, circa 332/1-328/7. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a winged lion springing right. Rev. AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ Nike standing front, head to left, with her wings spread, holding laurel wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left; to lower right, kerykeion. Price 3458. Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Lustrous, sharply struck and beautifully preserved. Very light deposits on the reverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.


This type is believed to be the earliest Athena-Nike stater of Alexander, forming the prototype for all later issues. What makes this coin especially interesting is the animal on the bowl of the helmet: it is clearly not a sphinx or a griffin, but a winged lion.