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Orbis Collectibles

Ainos, Lysimachos, tetradrachm — Athena enthroned to left (CN type 21574)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 277–260 BC

Issuing entity

Thrace

Tetradrachm in silver struck at Ainos in Thrace under Lysimachos, dated c. 277–260 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 21574 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: ruler).

Obverse: Diademed head of deified Alexander the Great with horn of Ammon, right. Reverse: Athena (Nikephoros) enthroned to left, holding Nike in outstretched right hand; left arm resting on shield behind, decorated with lion's head; in background, transverse spear; in inner left field, cult image of Hermes Perpheraios facing; beneath, monogram. Legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ / i.f.l. mon. *ΑΕ*. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 16.69 g (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Euboic /Attic weight standard.

Published references cited by the corpus: Fischer-Bossert, Die Lysimacher des Skostokos 151, 2005, p. 70, nr. A7.

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

The tetradrachm was a large silver coin of Ancient Greece nominally equivalent to four drachmae that became a standard trade currency across the Classical world. Lysimachus, a former officer and bodyguard of Alexander the Great, was appointed strategos of Thrace in 323 BC and became king of Thrace in 306 BC before dying at the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC. Struck at Ainos in Thrace, this Hellenistic coin bears his name alongside the diademed head of deified Alexander.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
tetradrachm
Recorded mean weight
16.69 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Ainos
Region
Thrace
Authority type
Ruler
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) enthroned to left, holding Nike in outstretched right hand; left arm resting on shield behind, decorated with lion's head; in background, transverse spear; in inner left field, cult image of Hermes Perpheraios facing; beneath, monogram.
Reverse legend
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ / i.f.l. mon. *ΑΕ*

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/21574
Type corpus identifier
CN type 21574

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

  • Diameter not recorded in the source corpus
  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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