LYSIMACHUS SILVER TETRADRACHM – ONE OF TWO SPECIMENS OF ABYDUS ISSUE WITH A STAR CONTROL SYMBOL – CHOICE AU NGC GRADED GREEK KINGDOM OF THRACE COIN (inv. 17254)

$4,000.00

17254. KINGDOM OF THRACE. LYSIMACHUS, 305–281 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 17.12 g, 29 mm. Late lifetime or early posthumous issue of an uncertain mint, perhaps Abydus, ca. 285–270 BC.
Obv. Head of deified Alexander the Great right, with the horn of Ammon. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑXΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding Nike crowning Lysimachus’ name, star in left field.
Thompson –, but cf. Thompson 72 for a die engraved in an identical style; cf. Stack’s 6/10/1970, 216, for a similar tetradrachm struck using the same obverse die coupled with a different reverse die.
NGC graded CHOICE AU, Strike 5/5, Surface 4/5, apparently one of two specimens documented.

This fascinating variety bears a Macedonian star symbol in left field. The usage of the star is very rare in the Lysimachi series where it generally appears together with other symbols. In this case the style of the obverse is instructive, as dies that look virtually identical and are engraved by the same hand are attested for the mint of Abydus (cf. American Numismatic Society 1944.100.45419).