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Orbis Collectibles

Ainos, Alexander der Große, tetradrachm — Athena seated left (CN type 12054)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 297–250 BC

Issuing entity

Thrace

Tetradrachm in silver struck at Ainos in Thrace under Alexander der Große, dated c. 297–250 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12054 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Diademed head of deified Alexander the Great with horn of Ammon, right. Reverse: Athena (Nikephoros) seated left, holding Nike and spear; shield behind. Legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 16.98 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 28.8 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Attic weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Thompson, The mints of Lysimachus, 1968, p. 182, nr. 257.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
3
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Due to their generous size, tetradrachms were frequently utilised by authorities to circulate political messages. Following the reign of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC), who had established a vast empire after securing Thrace and conquering the Persian Empire, Hellenistic civic authorities—including the ancient Thracian city of Ainos—issued coinage displaying his deified portrait.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
tetradrachm
Recorded diameter
28.8 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
16.98 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Ainos
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Attic
Issuing authority
Alexander der Große

Design

Obverse type
Diademed head of deified Alexander the Great with horn of Ammon, right.
Reverse type
Athena (Nikephoros) seated left, holding Nike and spear; shield behind.
Reverse legend
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ

Identification

Period
Hellenistic Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/12054
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12054

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

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