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Amphipolis, Alexander der Große, tetradrachm — Zeus enthroned left (CN type 22688)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

336–323 BC

Issuing entity

Kingdom of Macedonia

Tetradrachm in silver struck at Amphipolis under Alexander der Große, dated 336–323 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 22688 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: ruler).

Obverse: Head of (youthful) Heracles, right, wearing lion skin. Reverse: Zeus (Aëtophoros) enthroned left, wearing long garment, holding eagle, right, in outstretched right hand and sceptre in left hand, cornucopia on the left in front. Legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 15.16 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 27.2 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Attic weight standard.

Published references cited by the corpus: Price, The coinage in the name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus, 1991, nr. 108, pl. 22.

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

Alexander the Great became king of Macedon in 336 BC following the assassination of his father, Philip II, and reigned until his death in 323 BC. He utilised Amphipolis, an ancient Greek city in Edonis originally established as an Athenian colony, as a preparatory base for his military campaigns before invading Asia in 335 BC. Under Macedonian rule, the tetradrachm—a large silver coin worth four drachmae—served as a widespread standard denomination used extensively for state and military expenditures.

Physical characteristics

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

Technical characteristics

Mint
Amphipolis
Authority type
Ruler
Weight standard
Attic
Issuing authority
Alexander der Große

Design

Obverse type
Head of (youthful) Heracles, right, wearing lion skin.
Reverse type
Zeus (Aëtophoros) enthroned left, wearing long garment, holding eagle, right, in outstretched right hand and sceptre in left hand, cornucopia on the left in front.
Reverse legend
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ

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/22688
Type corpus identifier
CN type 22688

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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