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Byzantion, Alexander der Große, tetradrachm — Athena seated left (CN type 21524)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 110–100 BC

Issuing entity

Thrace

Tetradrachm in silver struck at Byzantion in Thrace under Alexander der Große, dated c. 110–100 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 21524 (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 16.68 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 33 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Attic weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: de Callataÿ, L'histoire des guerres mithridatiques vue par les monnaies, Louvain-La-Neuve 1997, p. 120, nr. D5-6/R1-2.

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

Byzantion was an ancient Greek city in Thrace, founded by colonists from Megara in the 7th century BC. Alexander III of Macedon, known as Alexander the Great, reigned from 336 BC until 323 BC after succeeding his father Philip II, having established early authority over Thrace in 335 BC before launching his expansive conquests. During the Hellenistic Period, cities struck tetradrachms—large silver coins originally worth four drachmae—often employing the portrait of the deified king alongside established standards such as the Attic weight standard.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
tetradrachm
Recorded diameter
33 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
16.68 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Byzantion
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/21524
Type corpus identifier
CN type 21524

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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