LYSIMACHUS SILVER TETRADRACHM – SUPER RARE ISSUE OF AN UNCERTAIN MINT – NEARLY EF GREEK KINGDOM OF THRACE COIN (Inv. 21388)

$6,500.00

21388. KINGDOM OF THRACE. LYSIMACHUS, 305–281 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 16.78 g, 30 mm. Lifetime issue of an uncertain mint, ca. 280s BC.
Obv. Head of deified Alexander the Great right, with the horn of Ammon. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛΥΣIMAXOΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding Nike crowning Lysimachus’ name, ΠYKAΛ control monogram in inner left field, M in exergue.
Thompson –; Müller –; Numismatik Naumann E–Auction 59, 2017, lot 51 (an inferior specimen, struck from different dies).
Ex Leu Numismatik 15, 6/1/2024, lot 36 = ex Sam “Duck” Reed Collection, Leu Numismatik 13, 5/27/23, 45, acquired privately from Superior on 4/22/1989.
Nearly EF, one of two specimens apparently on record.
This exceedingly rare Lysimachus issue seems to be known from only two specimens, the present piece being by far the better in both preservation and eye appeal. Due to the M control monogram in the exergue, it has been tentatively attributed to Mytilene by comparison to Thompson 133, although the left field monogram is quite different. It is this monogram that is fascinating and could be deciphered as being a combination of the abbreviated ethnics of Byzantium (ΠY) and Chalcedon (KAΛ), although this remains speculative.