GREEK COINS
KINGS of MACEDON
Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Stater (Gold, 19mm, 8.55 g 10), Babylon (?), c. 311-305. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet, annular earring, and simple double torc necklace. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Nike standing left with her wings spread, holding laurel wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left; below wing to left, monogram within wreath; to left, ΜΙ. Price 3749 var. An extraordinary piece, with the magistrates’ marks of Babylon but of highly unusual style. Good extremely fine. From a European collection, formed before 2000.
What is astonishing about this coin is the head of Athena: she lacks any decoration on her helmet (usually a serpent, a griffin or a sphinx), her hair falls straight down, and instead of a pearl necklace she wears something like a double-spiral torc. The style is outstanding; could this be some sort of essay that wasn’t accepted for general circulation?