ALEXANDER THE GREAT SILVER TETRADRACHM – VERY RARE POSSIBLE IMITATION OF COLOPHON – AU GREEK CELTIC COIN (Inv. 21452)

$1,750.00

21452. KINGDOM OF MACEDON. ALEXANDER III, THE GREAT, 336–323 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 17.28 g, 25 mm. A possible imitative issue copying a posthumous issue of Colophon.
Obv. Head of young Heracles right in lion skin headdress. Rev. AΛEΞANΔΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, holding eagle and scepter, lyre in left field, A below throne.
Price B13 (same dies).
Choice AU.
This extremely interesting coin has been classified as an imitation by Martin Price who lists it as such in his catalogue citing a die-identical specimen in the British Museum. However, this is far from clear. If imitative, the coin is based on a tetradrachm of Colophon (cf ANS 1944.100.31465) which shares the same symbols in identical placement. While the style is a little different, the legend on the present coin is correct and execution of the dies quite bold, suggesting that it may well be a legitimate emission of Colophon after all. The appearance of other specimens may clarify the issue, but for now this particular variety appears to be exceedingly rare, with only one other specimen in market records (Rauch Summer Auction 2007, 9/11/2007, lot 143) in addition to the British Museum piece cited by Price.