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Greek Coins :
Lysimachos Coins : Silver Tetradrachm of King Lysimachos
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Silver Tetradrachm of King Lysimachos - C.0137
Origin: Minted in Lampsakos
Circa: 323
BC
to 281
BC
Collection: Numismatics
Style: Thracian
Medium: Silver
$2,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Obverse: Deified Head of Alexander the Great
Facing Right
Reverse: Athena Nikephoros Enthroned Facing
Left Holding Nike
Lysimachos was born around 360 B.C. to
Thessalian Greek parents who had migrated to
Macedonia. He served in the army of Philip II and
was appointed to the select somatophylakes
(royal bodyguards) under Alexander the Great.
After Alexander’s death, he was given a satrapy
consisting of Thrace and parts of northwestern
Asia Minor. He supported the various coalitions
that included Seleukos, Ptolemy and Kassandros
against the growing power of Antigonos
Monophthalmos. Like the other major successor
generals, he proclaimed himself king in 305/4
B.C. and built his capital, Lysimacheia, in the
Thracian Chersonesos. Lysimachos was
instrumental in the final destruction of
Antigonos at the battle of Ipsos in 301. It fell to
him and his army to hold the Antigonid forces in
Asia Minor until Seleukos could arrive from the
east with his war elephants and deliver the coup
de grace. Because of the great risks that he
undertook, Lysimachos received the majority of
Antigonos' possessions in Asia Minor. Despite
some difficulties with native Thracian tribal
chiefs, Lysimachos wrested the very throne of
Macedonia from Demetrios Poliorketes in 285.
Unfortunately, Lysimachos was unable to
conciliate his subjects to himself. Eventually, the
peoples of Asia Minor, gorwing discontent with
Lysimachos’ rule and over-taxation, invited
Seleukos to save them. The ensuing contest was
decided on the field of Koroupedion in 291 B.C.
when Lysimachos fell to the forces of Seleukos I.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether active currencies in the age we
live or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. Like most successors,
Lysimachos adopted the imagery of Alexander
the Great in order to bolter his legitimacy as an
independent ruler. Although Athena was favored
by Alexander, the particular iconography used
here on the reverse was popularized by the
Successors. The goddess is shown as
Nikephoros, 'the victory bearer' and holds Nike to
indicate this function. Victory was an important
concept for Hellenistic rulers because without
victory it was impossible to be taken seriously as
a king. Thus Nike is seen here to be crowning
the name of Lysimachos with a laurel wreath.
This coin seeks to establish the legitimacy of
Lysimachos’ rule. However, today this ancient
artifact is more than a testament to a leader, it is
concrete remnants of an ancient empire passed
from the hands of civilization to civilization, from
generation to generation.
- (C.0137)
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