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Orbis Collectibles

Uncertain mint, Lysimachos, bronze coin — Forepart of a lion (CN type 12859)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 306–281 BC

Issuing entity

Kingdom of Thrace

Coin in bronze under Lysimachos, dated c. 306–281 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12859 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: ruler).

Obverse: Head of Athena, right, wearing helmet. Reverse: Forepart of a lion, right. Legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 2.39 g (mean of 42 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 14–15.4 mm (from 42 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: o. A., Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Greece 7. The KIKPE Collection of Bronze Coins, Volume I, 2012, nr. 364.

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

Lysimachus (Lysimachos) was a Thessalian officer and bodyguard of Alexander the Great during his Persian and Indian campaigns. Following Alexander's death in 323 BC, he was appointed strategos of Thrace, later assuming the royal title as king of Thrace in 306 BC. After participating in the defeat of Antigonus at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC, Lysimachus expanded his realm into western Asia Minor, before also seizing Macedon in 288 BC. His reign ended when he was defeated and killed by Seleucus at the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
14–15.4 mm (from 42 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
2.39 g (mean of 42 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Authority type
Ruler
Issuing authority
Lysimachos

Design

Obverse type
Head of Athena, right, wearing helmet.
Reverse type
Forepart of a lion, right.
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/12859
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12859

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Research required
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

  • Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 364

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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