ALEXANDER TETRADRACHMS: DAVISSON AUCTION 40

Alexander tetradrachms are familiar to all collectors of ancient coins, but in a series so large that covers such a vast swath of history (and geography) what sets one above another? Artistry, rarity, and historical significance all play into the seven choice pieces we have selected for this auction.

First are two of the finest coins in the auction, both rare issues from Memphis. The tetradrachms of Alexander from the mint of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, are arguably the most dramatically beautiful of all the coins struck in his name. The die engravers harnessed majestic power by utilizing high relief and unusual sculptural quality, making these coins stylistically among the finest silver coins of Alexander ever made.

The first, above, is the rarest of the Memphis mint issues. The crowned ram's head on this famous issue is traditionally associated with Khnum, the god of the source of the Nile, but recent scholarship argues that it may depict Amun, the source of Egyptian kingship and the god with whom Alexander was particularly associated (Lorber, CPE). This issue has been traditionally cataloged as a lifetime issue, c. 332-323 B.C., as in Price 3964, however the latest (2018) Lorber volume (CPE) settles on 323/2 B.C. Lorber notes that the symbol represents the accession of Philip III, hence supporting the position that this is, albeit barely, not a lifetime issue.

This second Memphis issue, while also quite rare, is noteworthy for the beautiful style of Alexander. These two and the civic issue from Thrace below are all from an American collection formed in the 1940s and 1950s, by a collector who corresponded with dealers and auction houses in the U.S. and England, notably the traditional English houses Spink &l Son and Glendinings &l Co. in London, and Edward Gans of Numismatic Fine Arts in New York City. Obtaining coins of this quality today is a tremendous challenge. One of our current clients commented he doubted they would be available on the open market today, but only through private treaty if at all.

One more issue from Egypt (probably Memphis as well) is this tetradrachm of Ptolemy I, with its rare depiction of Athena Alkidemos with her left breast bare. (It came to its discriminating collector via Edward Waddell.) Ptolemy I Soter "(Savior"), son of the Macedonian nobleman Lagus, was a friend and intimate of Alexander III the Great from boyhood and accompanied him on his conquests in 333-323 B.C. Upon Alexander's death in 323 B.C. Ptolemy was granted the prized satrapy of Egypt, richest of the Persian provinces. Ptolemy's early coinage carries Alexander's image and name, as seen on this remarkable tetradrachm, which depicts the great conqueror wearing an elaborate elephant-skin headdress in honor of his victories in India. Ptolemy declared his own kingship in 306 B.C. and was the only one of the Diadochi ("successors") to die peacefully, in his bed. His dynasty ruled Egypt until the fall of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C.

Moving across the Mediterranean, this wild civic issue from Odessos in Thrace was struck around 200 years after the Memphis issues. From the same 1950s collection as the first two coins above, this issue was struck to pay both Roman and Pontic legionnaires in the late second and early first centuries B.C., using the familiar types of Alexander III which were trusted by the soldiers. This example stylistically has a remarkable floral grandeur. While not so rare as coins from Memphis, examples of this quality are genuinely rare by virtue of condition.

This beautiful Cilician issue was struck shortly after Alexander's death in 323 B.C. Well centered and struck, of fine style and with beautifully toned fresh surfaces, it is another true condition rarity.

More modest in aspect though not in historicity, this characteristically small flan tetradrachm of Antigonos I Monophthalmos (the "one-eyed") was struck circa 316-311 B.C. in Susa (modern day Iran). Antigonos I, a general under both Philip II and Alexander and founder of the Antigonid dynasty, was a major player in the Wars of the Diadochi following Alexander's death.

Finally, this coin of another of Alexander's generals (Seleukos I Nikator) does not bear Alexander's name and so does not quite go with the other lots here, but the style, quality, and pedigree (Ex Arthur Houghton) all make it worthy of attention.

As dealers and auctioneers we have the pleasure of being the brief custodian of many incredible coins (although we sadly rarely get to keep them), but this Alexander offering is arguably finer than any we have previously handled. I hope you find them as fascinating and beautiful as we do.

For more information on the sale closing March 3, 2021, see:
https://davcoin.com/

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