Greek: MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (21mm, 17.23 gm, 10h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Sty...

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Exceptional Mint State Lifetime Distater

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater (21mm, 17.23 gm, 10h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style Lifetime issue, Aegeae(?), 336-323 BC. Head of Athena right, hair in four tight corkscrew curls, upswept at temple, and flowing over left shoulder, wearing pendant earring, double-necklace, and triple-crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, long divergent crest ends, bowl decorated with coiled serpent right / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Nike standing facing, head left, wreath in outstretched right hand, stylis cradled in left arm; vertical thunderbolt in outer left field, AO monogram in left field below wing. Price 191. Showcasing radiant and crisp surfaces, this imposing issue is an exceptional trophy for the discerning collector.

Ex Prospero Collection (The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 301; privately purchased from Spink, January 2009.

At the beginning of his reign in 336 BC, the Macedonian Kingdom was reportedly in debt to the tune of 500 silver talents (a talent being 6,000 silver drachms and a "king's ransom" in earliest Greek times). To give an idea of the vast loot his conquests amassed, at Susa alone Alexander seized 50,000 talents of silver and 40,000 of gold. This huge intake of bullion resulted in hitherto unseen denominations such as the gold distater, tariffed at two staters and ten silver tetradrachms, about 20 day's wages for a Macedonian soldier during wartime. The distater was likely employed to pay many of Alexander's veteran soldiers, who were rewarded for their labors with the equivalent of a silver talent. With the new denomination, a talent could be paid out as 120 gold distaters. Despite their size and enormous buying power, gold distaters evidently circulated heavily, for most specimens found today display considerable wear and numerous contact marks. However, this attractive specimen is nearly mark free.

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