Spargrodan 2024 Top 10 Coins

[Spargrodan]

Not ten coins, but I acquired six coins this year—and for once, I’ve had some time to take photos of them! My goal was to collect coins representing five of the Diadochi, and I’ve managed to add Monothalmos, Poliorketes, Ptolemy, Lysimachos, and Kassander to the collection. I didn’t get a Seleukos, but aside from that, I think the goal is met. I’m considering parting with some of these coins, but I’ll take some time to think it over.

1. Antigonus I Monophthalmus

Antigonus I Monophthalmus, AR Tetradrachm, Susa, 316-311 BCE, 16.79 g, 26 mm, 9h. Obv: Head of beardless Heracles right wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated on stool-throne left, eagle on outstretched right hand, sceptre in left hand, Symbols (Left Field): wreath, (Beneath Throne): ΑΙ, Symbol (Beneath Throne): monogram. Price 3857

2. Ptolemy I Soter, Memphis Mint

Ptolemaic, Ptolemy I; 323-321 BC, Memphis Mint. Tetradrachm, 16.74g. Price-3971, Lorber-20. Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion-skin headdress. Rx: Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, rose before, moneyer's signature ΔI-O below throne. Ex Stacks Bowers, Feb 2023, #71074.When Martin Price wrote his book, this coin was listed as "posthumous Alexander"; now, it is known as "Ptolemy I". Early issue. VF

3. Demetrios I Poliorketes

AR Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, 289-288 BCE, 16.7 g, 29,5 mm, 6h, Obv. Diademed head of Demetrios to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ. Poseidon, nude, standing left, his right foot set on a rock, holding trident in his left hand and resting his right on his right thigh; to inner left and right, monograms. Newell 115

4. Kassander

Macedon, Kassander, AR Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, 305-297 BCE., 17.14g, 27.00 mm. 9h. Obv. Head of beardless Heracles right wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated on stool-throne left, eagle on outstretched right hand, scepter in left hand. Symbols (Left Field): Λ, (Left Field): torch, (Beneath Throne): monogram. Price 484

5. Lysimachos

Lysimachos (323–281 BCE), Kingdom of Thrace, AR Tetradrachm, Pella, 17.16 g, 29,00 mm, Obv. Head of Alexander to the right with Ammon horn. Rev. Athena Nikephoros seated to the left holding a small figure of Nike, monogram in front. Thompson 251.

6. Macedon Shield, Roman Protectorate, First Meris

Roman Macedonia, Roman Protectorate, First Meris. AR Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, c. 150 BCE, 16.88g. 30.5 mm. 9h. Obv. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis Tauropolos facing right, with the bow and quiver on her shoulder, set in the center of a Macedonian shield adorned with stars. Rev. MACE∆ONΩN ΠPΩTHΣ. Legend on each side of a club; above, a monogram. Rev. translation: (Macedonia first). BMC.1 - SB. - Delepierre- - RQEMH.133 - Cop.- - AMNG. 3/- - Oxford.3292 var.

Pedigree: This example comes from the stock of Alain Poinsignon (Strasbourg).

Edited December 10, 2024 by Spargrodan

[El Cazador]

I voted for 1 & 5

[Cordoba]

Poliorketes is my fav

[panzerman]

I would pick one and six!

Nice selection/ many thanks for sharing

John

[CassiusMarcus]

Number 3 for me 🙂 

[Sulla80]

Nice set, @Spargrodan, I listened to Demetrius, Sacker of Cities on audio-book recently - so #3 (son of One-Eye) gets my favorite:

Edited December 10, 2024 by Sulla80

[DonnaML]

No. 3 for me. I love the portrait.

[Spargrodan]

On 12/10/2024 at 8:12 PM, Sulla80 said:

Nice set, @Spargrodan, I listened to Demetrius, Sacker of Cities on audio-book recently - so #3 (son of One-Eye) gets my favorite:

Thanks all for voting, seems like Poliorketes is in the lead so far. 🙂 

@Sulla80 thanks for the interesting book tip , I’ll look it up. 

[Ordinary-Ride-1595]

Team Ptolemy for me!

[Ryro]

Excellent Macedonian shield coin! I picked that and 3. Very cool coins all around though. 

[kirispupis]

All beautiful coins, but I voted for #1.

[MrMonkeySwag96]

Zeus was beautifully engraved on that Antigonus tet!

Edited December 13, 2024 by MrMonkeySwag96

[Qcumbor]

First Meris has first merit in my views 🙂 

Q

[savitale]

Great coins! Tough to choose. I voted for Lysimachus because it is iconic.

[robinjojo]

Six excellent purchases!  The Macedon shield tetradrachm is a fine coin in style and strike, on of the best that I've seen.  Congrats!

[Spargrodan]

Thanks to everyone who commented and voted. Demetrios I Poliorketes took first place, with First Merris in second, and a shared third place for Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Lysimachos.

[CPK]

Lovely group of tetradrachms!

[Di Nomos]

The Ptolemy I coin is my favourite. The Memphis mint produced some beautiful coins.