The Argead line, started by Herakles and ended with Alexander IV and Herakles, my new, slightly used, coin of Archelaos, and early Makedon coinage

[Ryro]

The Argead line was the greatest family of ancient Makedon, and certainly one of the most important families in all of ancient history.

Claiming their descent from Herakles himself.

This family boasts the first unified king of Europe, and first to unify and rule Greece, in Philip II. As well, the greatest conqueror of peoples of all time in Alexander the Great!

(Images, likely of, Alexander lll and Philip ll found in Vergina)

Though, not a name so recognizable, my latest win, Archelaos, was a big deal and an important step for the ultimate rise of Philip ll. He did more for his nation's military infrastructure then anyone before, according to no less than Thucydides.

(The sixteen foot spear was likely an innovation of Philip ll)

He made major political inroads with Athens by supplying them with timber after Athens total defeat in their disastrous Sicilian campaign. This would bring back Athens naval fleet that nearly turned the tide and won the war late in the game!

(After going timber in Sicily, Athens needed timber to build their navy back)

And, was the winner in numerous pan Hellenic games including the real Olympics!

My latest addition was a king who did all this and more:

Kings of Macedon. Aigai. Archelaos 413-399 BCE.

Obol AR 10 mm, 0,61 g. Fine

Obv. Bearded Herakles wearing a lion's skin headdress. Rev. [ΑΡΧ-Ε] Forepart of wolf right, devouring prey and club above. Source: SNG ANS 72.

Some other Argead kings of Makedon...

Alexander l

Alexander I

498-454 BC. AR Tetrobol (15mm, 1.97 g). Horse right / Quadripartite incuse square. Raymond pl. V, b; SNG ANS 20.

Ex Savoca

Raymond concluded that this rare issue was most likely struck before Alexander's escape from Persian influence in 480/79, yet the fine style of the incuse is unlike his earliest coinage. Thus, she was unable to place it securely within the established chronology of Alexander's coinage. Likewise the low weight - which corresponds precisely to the weight of a triobol on the Macedonian octadrachm standard (1.83 g) - of this and the other fractional issues she illustrates leaves little room for a certain identification of the denomination. This coin could be a very light-weight tetrobol or it could equally be a triobol. Because of the significant wear and the likelihood of internal crystallization of this piece, we have called it a tetrobol, assuming that when it was freshly minted it was probably close to the theoretical weight of 2.18 g on the Macedonian tetradrachm standard.

Perdikkas II, 451-413 B.C. Æ 18 (19 mm, 2.94 g, 11 h). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress / ΠEPΔIK-KA, Lion standing right, breaking spear with mouth and foreleg. SNG Alpha Bank 240; SNG ANS 114. Purchased from Savoca Oct 2021

Aeropos II, (398/7-395/4 BC). Æ Dichalkon (11.5mm, 1.60g). Aigai. Head of male r., wearing kausia. R/ Forepart of lion r. Westermark, Remarks 4; HGC 3.1, 814. Good Fine. Purchased from Aphrodite Aug 2023

Pausanias, Bronze. 395/4-393 BC. 1,89 g. // 13 mm

Obv.: Head of Temenos to right, wearing taenia.

Rev: ΠΑΥΣ, forepart of boar right, legs extended.

BMC -; SNG ANS -; SNG Alpha Bank -; Westermark, Regal Macedonian Coinage 1a

nVF, Rare. Purchased from Fitz Nov 2022

 

Amyntas III, (393-369 BCE). 3.42 g. 17 mm. Tetrachalkon. Aigai or Pella.

Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.

Rev: AMYNTA. 

Eagle standing right, grasping serpent with talons.

SNG Alpha Bank 214-230. Very fine.

 

Perdikkas III, (365-359 B.C.), AE 18, tetrachalkon, (18 mm, 6.31 g), Aigai mint, obv. head of Herakles in lion skin to right, rev. lion standing right, breaking a javelin with its jaws, above **PERDIK*, (S.1515, Westermark, Kraay-Morkholm Essay, Remarks 47, SNG ANS 114, BMC 3, HGC 3, 839 [R]) (illustrated) Nearly VF

Early Makedon-

Macedon, Tragilos, 450-400 BC. AR Hemiobol (7.4mm, 0.28g, 6h). Grain ear. R/ Quadripartite incuse square; T-P-A-I in quarters. SNG ANS 903; SNG Copenhagen 446. 

MACEDONIA, Eion, AR Trihemiobol

OBVERSE: Goose standing right, head reverted, lizard downward to left above

REVERSE: Quadripartite incuse square

Struck at Eion, 460-400 BC

.66g, 11mm, SNG ANS 273-284ʺ

Former CT pal Bing

THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION, Uncertain. 5th century BC. AR Tetartemorion (6mm, 0.25 g). Primate crouching left / Pellet or shield within incuse square with slightly rounded corners. Tzamalis 67. Toned, patches of find patina, some granularity. VF. Rare. From the Jim Gilman Collection, purchased from John Jencek, 7 August 2009

And to end a Early Makedonien coin I won at the same Savoca over the weekend...

Macedon. Akanthos circa 430-390 BC.

Tetrobol AR, 16 mm, 2,17 g,

Forepart of bull left, head right / Quadripartite incuse square. Good Fine

If you read this and enjoyed it, you're welcome! And thank you!!

If you didn't, welp, there's no accounting for taste. 

You know what we want to see... show us those coins of the Argead dynasty, Makedonien, Herakles, recent Savoca wins or anything that comes to mind works;)

 

Edited April 16 by Ryro

[AETHER]

Fantastic post, I always love to see yours a @kirispupis Macedon coinage

 

 

[AETHER]

What's the first coin btw? Archelaos?

Edited April 16 by AETHER

[Ryro]

15 minutes ago, AETHER said:

What's the first coin btw? Archelaos?

Thanks for asking! It's from Amyntas. Just a favorite representation of Herk of mine to show the family roots😉

Amyntas, AE. (Bronze,8.85 g 24mm) 36-25 BC.
Obv: Bearded and bare head of Herakles right, with club over shoulder.
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AMYNTOY, Lion walking, right.
Ref: RPC I 3502; HGC 7, 781; BMC 8-11.

Edited April 16 by Ryro

[kirispupis]

Great coins and writeup! Most of my Argeads are from towards the end of their reign.

This one is generally accepted to be from Alexander I.

Thraco-Macedonian, Uncertain mint Circa 420 BCE
Silver Hemiobol .30g, 8mm
Spearhead within a circle of pellets.
Quadripart incuse square.
Tzamalis 37

 

Kings of Macedon, Perdikkas III (365-359 BC).
AE 17.5mm, 3.21g, 12h
Head of Herakles r., wearing lion skin. R/ Lion standing r., breaking javelin with its jaws.
SNG ANS 114; SNG Alpha Bank 240; HGC 3.1, 839.

 

Makedonien Bronze Alexander II
370-367 BCE
AE 16.00 mm 4.80 g
SNG Alpha Bank 236
Male head right, wearing taenia / Horse galloping right

 

Kingdom of Macedon, Amyntas III
Pella, circa 393-369 BCE
AR Triobol 1.71g, 13mm, 4h
Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress
Eagle standing to left, head to right; AMY-N-TA around; all within linear border within incuse square.
Westermark, Remarks pl. LXX, 33; SNG Alpha Bank 200-2; SNG ANS 94; HGC 3.1, 830 ('hemidrachm').
Ex J. Greiff Collection

 

Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II AR Tetradrachm.
Pella mint, ca 354-349 BCE
22-24 mm., 13.68g.
Laureate head of Zeus right / ΦIΛΛIΠOY, Philip II, diademed & in kausia, on horseback left, raising right hand

[seth77]

I considered the Archelaos too, but glad I did not pursue it. It makes way more sense with your collection.

[Spargrodan]

6 hours ago, Ryro said:

The Argead line was the greatest family of ancient Makedon, and certainly one of the most important families in all of ancient history.

Claiming their descent from Herakles himself.

This family boasts the first unified king of Europe, and first to unify and rule Greece, in Philip II. As well, the greatest conqueror of peoples of all time in Alexander the Great!

(Images, likely of, Alexander lll and Philip ll found in Vergina)

Though, not a name so recognizable, my latest win, Archelaos, was a big deal and an important step for the ultimate rise of Philip ll. He did more for his nation's military infrastructure then anyone before, according to no less than Thucydides.

(The sixteen foot spear was likely an innovation of Philip ll)

He made major political inroads with Athens by supplying them with timber after Athens total defeat in their disastrous Sicilian campaign. This would bring back Athens naval fleet that nearly turned the tide and won the war late in the game!

(After going timber in Sicily, Athens needed timber to build their navy back)

And, was the winner in numerous pan Hellenic games including the real Olympics!

My latest addition was a king who did all this and more:

Kings of Macedon. Aigai. Archelaos 413-399 BCE.

Obol AR 10 mm, 0,61 g. Fine

Obv. Bearded Herakles wearing a lion's skin headdress. Rev. [ΑΡΧ-Ε] Forepart of wolf right, devouring prey and club above. Source: SNG ANS 72.

Some other Argead kings of Makedon...

Alexander l

Alexander I

498-454 BC. AR Tetrobol (15mm, 1.97 g). Horse right / Quadripartite incuse square. Raymond pl. V, b; SNG ANS 20.

Ex Savoca

Raymond concluded that this rare issue was most likely struck before Alexander's escape from Persian influence in 480/79, yet the fine style of the incuse is unlike his earliest coinage. Thus, she was unable to place it securely within the established chronology of Alexander's coinage. Likewise the low weight - which corresponds precisely to the weight of a triobol on the Macedonian octadrachm standard (1.83 g) - of this and the other fractional issues she illustrates leaves little room for a certain identification of the denomination. This coin could be a very light-weight tetrobol or it could equally be a triobol. Because of the significant wear and the likelihood of internal crystallization of this piece, we have called it a tetrobol, assuming that when it was freshly minted it was probably close to the theoretical weight of 2.18 g on the Macedonian tetradrachm standard.

Perdikkas II, 451-413 B.C. Æ 18 (19 mm, 2.94 g, 11 h). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress / ΠEPΔIK-KA, Lion standing right, breaking spear with mouth and foreleg. SNG Alpha Bank 240; SNG ANS 114. Purchased from Savoca Oct 2021

Pausanias, Bronze. 395/4-393 BC. 1,89 g. // 13 mm

Obv.: Head of Temenos to right, wearing taenia.

Rev: ΠΑΥΣ, forepart of boar right, legs extended.

BMC -; SNG ANS -; SNG Alpha Bank -; Westermark, Regal Macedonian Coinage 1a

nVF, Rare. Purchased from Fitz Nov 2022

Amyntas III, (393-369 BCE). 3.42 g. 17 mm. Tetrachalkon. Aigai or Pella.

Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.

Rev: AMYNTA. 

Eagle standing right, grasping serpent with talons.

SNG Alpha Bank 214-230. Very fine.

 

Perdikkas III, (365-359 B.C.), AE 18, tetrachalkon, (18 mm, 6.31 g), Aigai mint, obv. head of Herakles in lion skin to right, rev. lion standing right, breaking a javelin with its jaws, above **PERDIK*, (S.1515, Westermark, Kraay-Morkholm Essay, Remarks 47, SNG ANS 114, BMC 3, HGC 3, 839 [R]) (illustrated) Nearly VF

Early Makedon-

Macedon, Tragilos, 450-400 BC. AR Hemiobol (7.4mm, 0.28g, 6h). Grain ear. R/ Quadripartite incuse square; T-P-A-I in quarters. SNG ANS 903; SNG Copenhagen 446. 

MACEDONIA, Eion, AR Trihemiobol

OBVERSE: Goose standing right, head reverted, lizard downward to left above

REVERSE: Quadripartite incuse square

Struck at Eion, 460-400 BC

.66g, 11mm, SNG ANS 273-284ʺ

Former CT pal Bing

THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION, Uncertain. 5th century BC. AR Tetartemorion (6mm, 0.25 g). Primate crouching left / Pellet or shield within incuse square with slightly rounded corners. Tzamalis 67. Toned, patches of find patina, some granularity. VF. Rare. From the Jim Gilman Collection, purchased from John Jencek, 7 August 2009

And to end a Early Makedonien coin I won at the same Savoca over the weekend...

Macedon. Akanthos circa 430-390 BC.

Tetrobol AR, 16 mm, 2,17 g,

Forepart of bull left, head right / Quadripartite incuse square. Good Fine

If you read this and enjoyed it, you're welcome! And thank you!!

If you didn't, welp, there's no accounting for taste. 

You know what we want to see... show us those coins of the Argead dynasty, Makedonien, Herakles, recent Savoca wins or anything that comes to mind works;)

 

Great write up @Ryro superinteresting as I got more interested in this area of history and collecting now.

[JAZ Numismatics]

@Ryro I love your collecting style and your informative and entertaining threads. Keep it coming!

 

 

[ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΦΩΝΣΟΥ]

Alexander I tetradrachm.

[Severus Alexander]

I recently added the same type @Ryro!  As you say, his importance is outsized compared to the length of his reign, plus I love this type with the wolf gnawing on something... so I'd been trying to get one for while.  Finally managed to snag one in a group lot.  (Yes, why did they group it?!? Crazy.)  I don't have my own photo yet, so here it is, cropped out of the group:

 

Your collection of Argeads is admirably complete, my friend!  Pre-Alex III, I only have Philip II and Archelaos. 😞  Who are the next two or three "most essential," would you say?  (Talking primarily historically, though also to some extent numismatically.)

Edited April 24 by Severus Alexander

[Ryro]

33 minutes ago, Severus Alexander said:

I recently added the same type @Ryro!  As you say, his importance is outsized compared to the length of his reign, plus I love this type with the wolf gnawing on something... so I'd been trying to get one for while.  Finally managed to snag one in a group lot.  (Yes, why did they group it?!? Crazy.)  I don't have my own photo yet, so here it is, cropped out of the group:

 

Your collection of Argeads is admirably complete, my friend!  Pre-Alex III, I only have Philip II and Archelaos. 😞  Who are the next two or three "most essential," would you say?  (Talking primarily historically, though also to some extent numismatically.)

Way to go! Great minds think alike or fools never differing 😉 either way we both have a very important coin with a RAD reverse (Your club above the gnawing pup is a beauty as well).

In regards to historical importance I think you've got to put Alexander l (that meadizing SOB) up pretty high. Him playing friendly with the Persians might look bad in hind sight, but it kept him in charge, Makedon on the map, and makes for a great story ark with his namesake and great great Great grandson coming along to make up for it, and then some, by conquering ALL!

Amyntas lll also brought a lot to the table. Not just him being Al the thirds grandpa, Philips dad and such. But he also taught Philip ll the importance of diplomacy and gave him the training that he would need to unify and conqueror Greece by sending him to Illyria and Thebes. Philip ll utilizing these lessons would lead to one of the greatest quotes of all time:

Last, and most important, for both history and numismatics, the grandaddy of all Argeads, the original man's man (turned into a god), HERAKLES! Right up there with Zeus, Nike and Athena the late addition to mount Olympus may be on more ancients than any of them!

I was gonna do a thread about these, but they're modern and now is a fine spot to show off my $37 ebay find. 12 coins, each, featuring a labor:

 

Edited April 24 by Ryro

[Severus Alexander]

Thanks, buddy!!  I was sorta kinda prioritizing those two (Alex I and Amyntas III) but felt very uncertain... and now I have the weight of authority behind those pursuits!

The labours set is pretty cool, even if it is modern. That medallion though? Hmm... 🤐 😄

[Anaximander]

I genuflect before the mighty @Ryro, the OP, whose Argead genealogy, coins, and witticisms launched a thousand ships (or at least a few posts).  Still, we will make space for Aëropos II (398-394 BC, regent and regicide of Orestes, son of Archelaus) in this account. Arguably, we would do the same for Pausanias (394/393) if any of his coins were in my shoebox marked MACEDON.

There is always room in my virtual tray to fill the many gaps in my collection of the Argead royal line.

So many denominations: tetradrachm, tetrobol, pentadrachm, dichalkon, didrachm, and drachm. 

 

Edited May 4 by Anaximander
Used @ to link OP name.

[Alegandron]

Mine from BEFORE Alexander III…

I


MAKEDON
Alexander I 498-454 BCE
AR Obol 10mm 0.75g
Horse - Quadripartite incuse square
SNG ANS 32 Rare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Perdikkos II 454-413 BCE 
AR heavy tetrobol 2.4g 15mm 12h mint 437-431 BC
horseman holding two spears prancing
Forepart Lion in incuse square
Raymond 184ff SNG ANS 47ff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perdiccas_II_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Amyntas II 395-393 BCE
Æ12, Dichalkon 2.0g, 12h; Aigai or Pella mint.
Obv.: Head of Pan right.
Rev.: Forepart of wolf chewing on bone.
Ref: Westermark, Remarks, 2; SNG Alpha Bank 179-80.
Very Rare.
Ex: @John Anthony
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyntas_II_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Amyntas III 393-369 BCE
GRANDFATHER of Alexander III the Great
AE 17mm, 3.2g
Obv: Head of Herakles r, wearing lion skin
Rev: AMUNTA, Eagle devouring serpant
Ref: SNG ANS 100ff
Ex: @Blake Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyntas_III_of_Macedon



MAKEDON
Philip II 359-336 BCE
Mastermind of all the Makedon Kings - Father of Alexander III the Great
AR Tetradrachm.
Mint: Pella, lifetime issue, struck circa 353-349 BC.
25 mm. 14.4 g
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right Rev: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ,
Rev: Philip on horseback left, wearing kausia and raising right hand; spearhead below, star below horse's raised foreleg.
Le Rider 102 (D58/R82).

[Alegandron]

a few Kings of Makedon AFTER Alexander III


MAKEDON Philip III Arrhidaios 323-317 BCE Æ 1-2 Unit 17mm 4.2g Miletos mint Makedonwn shield Gorgoneion - Helmet bipennis K Price 2064



Makedon Antigonos I Monopthalmus 319-305 BC AR Drachm Magnesia and Maeandrum Mint 3.9g 16-5mm Herakles lion-Zeus


Makedon - Kassander 305-297 BCE AE 20 Herakles - Youth on Horse prancing SG 6754



Makedon AE 15mm Demetrios I Poliorketes 294-288 BCE Zeus Athena


Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus King of Epirus 278-276 BCE AE Litra 11.4g 23.3mm Herakles Nemaean Lion scalp - Athena Promachos thunderbolt shield SNG Cop 813, SNG ANS 852
King of Makedon 274-272 BCE


Makedon Amphipolis Philip V - Perseus - Makedon Amphipolis Philip V - Perseus - lost empire to Romans - helmet Tetrobol 187-168 BCE



Makedon Philip V AE17 3.7g 221-179 BCE Perseus Hd R helmet w winged vulture - Horse rearing R SNG Cop 1239



Makedon Perseus 178-168 BC AE 23 Poseidon Club
lost empire to Romans

[Alegandron]

I think this was end of the line for the Argeads…

Here is one AFTER Alex III, for the joint rule of his Elder Half-Brother and Alex III's Son:


Makedon
Philip III Arrhidaeus and Alexander IV
Drachm Amphipolis mint 2.59g 13mm
Apollo-Youth horse
VERY RARE
SNG ANS 621 Le Rider123

[Ryro]

Thought I'd dig this thread up to share another early Macedonian coin that I won.

A few thoughts: I know that it says it is the head and neck of a lioness, but I keep seeing a crown like the one that Bes wears! But as we don't have thousands of statues of this lioness wearing a crown, I will take the attributors word for it.

As well, this type is often described as being from Akanthos. Does anyone have any idea which is the more likely/popular view?

And then there's the fact that the timeline for this is a bit all over. Some list it as from 525-470 BCE, others have it at 500-470, or some just say 480. Are they getting their dates from an excel randomizer?

Macedon. The Andrioi in Argilos. AR Phocaic Tritartemorion (8,3mm 0,35g). Head and neck of lioness seen from above. R/ Quadripartite incuse square. PPE I, p. 233, 6; SNG ANS 29 (Akanthos). Good VF and extremely rare.

[Anaximander]

Such an early coin, @Ryro, and the tell is in the reverse, with the quadripartite incuse.

I usually defer to the latest scholarship, which could be Oliver Hoover's HGC vol. 3.1 (2016). There, you'll see lions on nearly all the early coinage of Akanthos. Argilos doesn't have the lions, and doesn't get the nod.  The obol of the series (at c. 0.65gm) for c. 500-470 BC is a dead ringer for your coin type, which isn't listed. The other reference: SNG ANS 7 (Acanthus) #27-29 says c. 525-470, but that covers 14 coins.  

Here's my early lioness from Akanthos, a tetrobol that is also dated by Hoover to c. 500-470.  

 

 

[Deinomenid]

These are  usually described as  obols, the low weight  notwithstanding. No idea  if that's incorrect,  but  if you search  under that you'll get a lot more  information and dating clustering more  tightly around 480BC.

Eg

MACEDON. Akanthos. Circa 480-470 BC. Obol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.37 g). Head and neck of lioness seen from above; border of dots. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with granulated surfaces. BMFA 525. HGC 3.1, 390. Klein 29. SNG ANS 27-29. Very fine.

 

I think Bes is really unlikely because it would  be an odd association (lion wearing  crown when on most coins  its more clearly a mane) , plus  it does look  like an attempt at a mane plus Bes's  "worship" was not known there - there was a Bes link to  Dionsyos who was a popular chap in some parts  up there, but (famous last words) I don't think there's a direct link.

 

Not sure if  I understood the question - if not then  @Anaximander no doubt did!

 

Also Numista  has a similar coin, with reference links at the  top right.

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces186222.html

Author Dieter Klein

Title Sammlung von griechischen Kleinsilbermünzen und Bronzen

Publisher Edizioni Ennerre

 

 

[MrMonkeySwag96]

 

PHILIP III ARRHIDAIOS OF MACEDON AR DRACHM, 323 - 300 B.C.E. Price P44, Muller P51, Very Fine+, 18.4mm, 4.30 grams, Struck Circa. 323 - 319 B.C.E., Colophon Mint Obverse: Head of (Alexander as) Herakles wearing lion skin to right Reverse: Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right, lyre to left, A below throne

 

Edited June 15 by MrMonkeySwag96

[PeteB]

A much later Amyntas, quite similar to the first coin shown in the OP:
KINGS of GALATIA. Amyntas. 39-25 BC. Æ (25mm, 13.67 gm, 10h). Obv: Head of Herakles r., club over shoulder, Є below (not mentioned in RPC). Rev: Lion walking right; B above, monogram(s) in ex. RPC I 3505 (var); SNG France 2377-82.