Samothrake, Lysimachos, tetradrachm — Athena seated left (CN type 20101)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 297/296–282/281 BC
Issuing entity
ThraceTetradrachm in silver struck at Samothrake in Thrace under Lysimachos, dated c. 297/296–282/281 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 20101 (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 16.84 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 29–30 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Euboic /Attic weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Thompson, The mints of Lysimachus, 1968, nr. 195; Müller, Die Münzen des thracischen Königs Lysimachus, Kopenhagen 1858, nr. 101; Mannsperger and Balluff, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. Deutschland. Münzsammlung der Universität Tübingen. 2. Taurische Chersones - Korkyra: Nr. 731 - 1542, 1982, nr. 960.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 5
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 3
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Lysimachus was an officer and bodyguard of Alexander the Great who became king of Thrace in 306 BC and later extended his rule over western Asia Minor and Macedon. Struck between c. 297/296 and 282/281 BC on the Aegean island of Samothrace in Thrace, this silver tetradrachm depicts the deified Alexander with the horn of Ammon. Tetradrachms were large silver coins of Ancient Greece nominally equivalent to four drachmae, which served widely across the Hellenic world for state expenses and political messaging.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Denomination
- tetradrachm
- Recorded diameter
- 29–30 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 16.84 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Samothrake
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
- Weight standard
- Euboic /Attic
- Issuing authority
- Lysimachos
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/20101
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 20101
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
Varieties
Samothrake, Lysimachos, tetradrachm (CN type 19508)
Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.
Samothrake, Lysimachos, tetradrachm (CN type 20088)
Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution