PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 212/11-184/3 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 17.02 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Contemporary imitation. Good VF.

Electronic Auction 616
Lot: 41.
Closing Date: Sep 2 2026 10:00 ET

Further Selections from the Joseph A. Dow Collection, Silver

Estimate: $ 200

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PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 212/11-184/3 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 17.02 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Contemporary imitation. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, retrograde AΣ above MA monogram. Price 2913, referencing Propontis hoard 100 = ANS inv. 1951.35.57 (same dies); DCA2 476 (R3); cf. Seleucus III Hoard (CH X, 272). Toned. Good VF. Extremely rare, only the ANS piece published, one reportedly in the Seleucus III Hoard. Only this coin in CoinArchives.

From the Joseph A. Dow Collection. Ex Asher D. Atchick Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 459, 8 January 2020), lot 295; Will Gordon Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 380, 10 August 2016), lot 262; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 95 (4 August 2004), lot 10.

Price hypothesizes that the MA monogram on this issue may be intended to represent the date 31 (Greek form ΛA). At the same time, he also considers that it may be a contemporary imitation, copying the types of Aspendos. Certainly, the style is rather divergent from the standard Alexanders of Aspendos, and it is unlikely that an official issue would have a retrograde ethnic. Such retrograde legends are attested on issues from other cities, but none of the large quantity of published pieces from Aspendos from other years exhibits this. However, the most conclusive evidence is in the Seleucus III hoard, which is securely dated to c. 225 BC. Some numismatists who saw the hoard remarked that a coin from this issue was present, so a date of year 31 at Aspendos would be impossible.

Closing Date and Time: 2 September 2026 at 10:13:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.