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Ancient Greek Coins
The first Ancient Greek Coins appeared in Aegina around 600 B.C. and were amongst the first coins ever minted by a western civilization. Their design tells the story of a fascinating civilisation. A society that minted coins to celebrate outstanding individuals, gods, and religious practices, as well as ancient international relations. Examples are the Alexander the Great coins the Athenian Owl, and the Obol, just to name a few.
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Achaean League Silver Hemidrachm Good Fine
The Achaean League was originally formed in the 5th Century B.C. but collapsed soon after. When it was reformed around 280 B.C. it quickly grew to include nearly every state in the Peloponnese, except Sparta. It was formed to defend the small states against the larger empires, namely Macedon in the north. Over time the League grew more powerful, defeated Sparta and ruled the whole of the Peloponnese but changed its allegiance to Rome. Sadly for them this eventually lead to Rome gaining domination over all Greece and disbanding the League in all but name in 146 B.C. with the coins continuing until 30 B.C. What makes the League so interesting is that it was a very early example of Federalism, a system where central government shares power with regional governments. It was from the writings of Polybius, a Greek historian who was a roman hostage, that we know about the workings of the League. This influenced many modern state founders, chiefly the founding fathers of the United States of America! We have a small group of the Silver Hemidrachm made by the states in the League between 280 and 30 B.C. They have Zeus on the obverse with the Leagues monogram on the reverse. Each coin comes identified as to which state struck it and at what time. These Hemidrachm grade at least Good Fine and we have priced them to please in these times.
£95.00
Alexander the Great (336-323 BC), Silver Drachm Very Fine
Silver drachm coin minted by Alexander the Great (336-323 BC). Obverse: Alexander as Herakles wearing lion-skin head-dress. Reverse: Zeus enthroned holding eagle and sceptre. Very Fine Condition
£195.00
Alexander the Great Bronzee Chalkon, Fine
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), son of Philip II of Macedon, is renowned for creating one of the largest empires in ancient history. Ascending to the throne at 20, he swiftly consolidated his power and launched a series of military campaigns. His conquests spanned from Greece to Egypt and extended eastward to India. Known for his tactical brilliance, Alexander never lost a battle, with notable victories including the Battle of Issus and the Siege of Tyre. His legacy includes the spread of Greek culture and the founding of numerous cities, the most famous being Alexandria in Egypt. Alexander's empire fragmented after his death at 32, but his cultural and military impacts endured for centuries. Here we are offering bronze Chalkon which have the bust of Herakles on the obverse and his bow and quiver on the reverse. These come from his reign and they come in Fine Grade.
£49.50
Alexander The Great Silver Drachm FINE
Everyone has heard of Alexander the Great but most collectors can only dream of owning a coin issued by him. We have just bought a small group of his silver drachms and we got a great deal on them so we are going to pass that deal on to you. On one side you have the head of Herakles wearing a lion’s skin head-dress and on the other side Alexander’s name ‘AΛEΞANΔPOY’ in Greek script with the seated figure of Zeus holding an eagle and sceptre. We can off er them in two grades Fine and Very Fine. Alexander was born in 356 BC and succeeded his father Philip II to the throne at the age of 20. He died in the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon at the age of 32 having created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, his campaigns legendary then and now.
£129.50
Attica, Athens. Ca. 431-393 B.C. AR Tetradrachm. AOE. Extremely Fine + Floating Frame Display
These beautiful silver Tetradrachms of Athens are one of the most important and iconic coins ever struck. They were made from the silver mined at Laurion near Athens in the 5th century BC, making them around 2500 years, old and were known for their fineness of silver and standard weight so were accepted all over the known world at the time. The wonderful high-relief design has the helmeted head of the goddess Athena on one side and on the reverse, the eponymous owl of Athens with a sprig of olive above to signify Athens's trade in olive oil, with ‘AΘE’ beside meaning ‘of the Athenians’. The coins on offer are in Extremely Fine condition, a very high grade for an ancient coin, and each coin comes in a ‘floating frame’ to showcase these magnificent coins together with a certificate of authenticity. True ancient works of art in superb condition. Only a very limited number are available. Photograph is representative of coin supplied but all coins available are at least the grade illustrated (Extremely Fine).
£1,350.00
Cilicia, Uncertain mint. Ca. 4th Century B.C. AR Obol. Eagle.
Cilicia, Uncertain mint. Ca. 4th Century B.C., AR Obol. Male head left wearing wreath of grain ears / Eagle standing left spreading wings; club in left field; all within pelleted square. Toned About Extremely Fine & Scarce. Eagle is on a lion that is off-struck.
£220.00
Eukratides I Silver Obol Diademed Bust EF
Eukratides I ‘The Great’ was perhaps the most important Greco-Bactrian king in history. He reigned from 171–145 BC, conquering large parts of northern India and minting a vast and prestigious coinage, suggesting a rule of considerable importance and prosperity. We have just bought a small group of these delightful silver Obols from his reign, representing two different obverse types. The first type shows his diademed and draped bust on the obverse (Extremely Fine). The reverse shows the caps of the Dioskouri with palm fronds above and a monogram below with the legend BAΣIΛEΩΣ / EΥKΡATIΔOΥ vertically at the sides. Our records show that we have only ever handled four of these scarce coins! Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED
£175.00
Eukratides I Silver Obol Helmeted Bust VF
Eukratides I ‘The Great’ was perhaps the most important Greco-Bactrian king in history. He reigned from 171–145 BC, conquering large parts of northern India and minting a vast and prestigious coinage, suggesting a rule of considerable importance and prosperity. We have just bought a small group of these delightful silver Obols from his reign, representing two different obverse types. This shows his helmeted bust (Very Fine). The reverse shows the caps of the Dioskouri with palm fronds above and a monogram below with the legend BAΣIΛEΩΣ / EΥKΡATIΔOΥ vertically at the sides. Our records show that we have only ever handled four of these scarce coins! Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED
£115.00
Gorgon of Parion Silver Drachm 5th Century B.C.
Founded in 709 B.C., the ancient city of Parion is the present-day town of Kemer in Canakkale province of Turkey. It was a major coastal city and trading port with two harbours. Parion enjoyed strong relations with Thrace and Anatolia throughout history and it was the main customs station through which all goods bound for Constantinople (Istanbul) from Greece and the Aegean had to pass. After being conquered by the Persian Empire in the 6th Century B.C. it passed to Lysimachus in the 4th Century B.C. and then the Attalids in the 3rd. From one tyrant to another! A local city-coinage system was introduced by the ancient Greeks and continued through to Roman times with later coins being issued in the name of the emperor. The image of the Gorgoneion was used to ward off evil and for that reason was put on door frames, shields, and of course, on coins! We have recently bought a small collection of archaic Silver Drachm made in this city in the 5th Century B.C.. The obverse shows the facing head of a Gorgoneion with a protruding tongue and the reverse depicts a disorganized linear pattern within an incuse square. The coins are all in a Fine condition as they were used at the time and have survived from 2400 years ago! But they are a fascinating charm to ward off evil, then and now. Add this ancient coin to your collection. Priced to please!
£64.50 £54.50
Greek Dolphin Money from Olbia
This is something you will not see often. These bronze coins from Greek colony city of Olbia in Thrace were cast in the shape of a dolphin! They were made to honour their god Apollo Delphinios. This name is linked to the story of Cretan sailors in a storm who were guided to safety by Apollo shaped as a dolphin, landing at Delphi they became his priests. It also likely that the people were imitating what they saw, there were large numbers of dolphins in the Black Sea and still are today! Playful and intelligent, they would have been as friendly then as they are now. These were cast in bronze in the 5th to 4th centuries B.C., and because of this process do not have a tail. They show the body, the vast majority have the dorsal fin and some will even have eye pellets. As always the first to order will get the best, in this case the shape and features!
£24.50
Illyrian Silver Drachm
In about 600 B.C. the Greek city of Corinth sent colonists up the coast to Illyria (which roughly corresponds to the modern Balkans) to create a city for trade. These Greek colonists prospered and spread but by the 3rd Century B.C. they needed the Romans to stop the Ardiaei pirates from plundering their cities & trade routes. This lead to three Illyrian Wars between 229-168 B.C. and after this the area came under Roman protection. From about 200 B.C. two cities in the area, Apollonia & Dyrrachium (Epidamnos) started to mint these Greek silver drachm coins for use in trade. On the obverse they a fertility symbol of a cow suckling a calf. On the reverse a double geometric pattern which scholars think is a schematic representation of the two stars of the Dioscuri. They grade Very Fine and continued to be struck until the arrival of Julius Caesar in 48 B.C. stopped the production. These will make great additions to any collection or an exciting present!
£95.00
Ionia, Ephesos. 82-81 B.C. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm.
Ionia, Ephesos. 82-81 B.C. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow & bowcase, torch right field. Very Fine. Struck as part of a closed monetary system, they weighed three Drachma but were valued at four.
£190.00
Kalchedon Silver Drachm GVF
Kalchedon was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor. It was located almost directly opposite Byzantium, and it is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy. It was founded in 685 BC by Greek colonists from Megara in Attica, some seventeen years before Byzantium. These lovely silver drachms from Kalchedon, struck around 367-340 BC, proudly display the towns name with the Greek letters ΚΑΛΧ above a bull standing to left on an ear of grain. The reverse has a simple four part incuse square ‘Mill Sail’ pattern with granular surfaces. The coins grade Good Very Fine and are affordable, attractive early Greek silver coins priced to please.
£145.00
Kings of Cappadocia. Ariobarzanes III. 52-42 B.C., AR Drachm.
Kings of Cappadocia. Ariobarzanes III. 52-42 B.C., AR Drachm. Diademed head of Ariobarzanes III right / Athena standing to left holding Nike, spear & resting on a shield. About Very Fine.
£49.50
Lampsakos Trihemiobol 5th Century B.C.
Lampsakos (Latinised as Lampsacus) was an ancient Greek city on the Eastern side of the Hellespont, founded in the 7th Century B.C. It grew rich controlling trade through this corridor so during the 6th-4th centuries B.C. It was conquered by the Lydians, then Persians, then Athenians, Spartans, and finally Persia again. Captured in the 330s B.C. by Alexander the Great he threatened destruction on them as he thought them pro-Persian. They sent Anaximenes of Lampsakos who heard Alexander had sworn to do the opposite they asked, so he said, ‘Please majesty: enslave the women and children of Lampsakos, burn their temples, and raze the city to the ground.’ Alexander was tricked and reluctantly pardoned the people of Lampsakos. It prospered for the rest of antiquity. We have a little group of small silver coins from this city dating between 500-450 B.C. They have the early, archaic style showing a female Janiform (one face forward, one backward) head on the obverse with Athena in a Corinthian helmet on the reverse. They are about 2500 years old, grade About Very Fine and the first to order will get the best centred examples! At this price, we do not expect them to stay long.
£90.00
Lucania, Metapontum. Ca. 470-440 B.C. AR Nomos.
Lucania, Metapontum. Ca. 470-440 B.C. AR Nomos. Barley ear; in left field a ram's head facing upward / Incuse barley ear. About Very Fine & Scarce. A well known coin from antiquity the incuse is said to have been designed by Pythagoras, the school childs bane.
£295.00
Lycia, Zagaba. Ca. 400-380 B.C. AR Tetrobol.
Lycia, Zagaba. Ca. 400-380 B.C., AR Third Stater. Lion's scalp facing / Facing head of helmeted Athena, Lycian legend to left & monogram to right. About Very Fine & Rare!
£295.00
Lykaonia, Laranda, Silver Obol, Extremely Fine
Lykaonia was an area in what is now central Turkey, north of the Taurus Mountains. Lukkawanna, the Ancient Hittite name for the area, came from the 2nd millennium B.C. and translated as ‘Land of Lukka’ with ‘Lukka’ meaning wolf. The Ancient Greek for wolf was ‘Lykos’ so this archaic association with wolves was already thousands of years old when this coin was struck. This association is celebrated on the silver obols we are off ering here with an impressively engraved forepart of a wolf on the reverse of the coin. The obverse shows Baaltars, the local version of the Greek god, Zeus. This parallel can be seen in the way he is seated and holding his sceptre, the same as Zeus on Alexander the Great’s coinage. We offer these coins in Extremely Fine grade. They were struck at the city of Laranda and date to the middle of the 4th century B.C. Please be aware that we have only a small number of them. Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED
£125.00
Lykaonia, Laranda. Very Fine Wolf Obol.
Lykaonia was an area in what is now central Turkey, north of the Taurus Mountains. Lukkawanna, the Ancient Hittite name for the area, came from the 2nd millennium B.C. and translated as ‘Land of Lukka’ with ‘Lukka’ meaning wolf. The Ancient Greek for wolf was ‘Lykos’ so this archaic association with wolves was already thousands of years old when this coin was struck. This association is celebrated on the silver obols we are offering here with an impressively engraved forepart of a wolf on the reverse of the coin. The obverse shows Baaltars, the local version of the Greek god, Zeus. This parallel can be seen in the way he is seated and holding his sceptre, the same as Zeus on Alexander the Great’s coinage. These coins grade Very Fine and were struck at the city of Laranda. They date to the middle of the 4th century B.C. and we only have a small group, I hope you get one!
£65.00
Macedon, Philip II (358-336 B.C.) AE.18 Choice Good Very Fine
Philip II ruled from 359-336 B.C. and began the rise of the Kingdom of Macedon. He reformed the army and was able to dominate the rest of the Greek city-states. As he was preparing to invade the Achaemenid Persian Empire he was assassinated by a member of his bodyguard so his son Alexander the Great took over, how different history could have been! The last time we had this type they sold out in all grades and it has been hard to get more! These bronze coins grade Very Fine, show the head of Apollo on the obverse and a naked youth on horseback on the reverse. Be the proud owner of a nearly two and a half thousand-year-old coin of Philip II of Macedon, Father of Alexander the Great.
£95.00
Macedon. Kassander. 317-305 B.C., Æ 1/2 Unit.
Macedon. Kassander. 317-305 B.C., Æ 1/2 Unit. Herakles head in Nemean lionskin right / Lion seated right. Good Fine.
£75.00
Macedonian Bronze with shield & helmet
These coins were struck during the most important and powerful period of The Macedonian Kingdom. They were first made under Philip II (359-336 B.C.), then Alexander the Great and his successors until about 240 B.C. They are linked to their military conflicts at the time by the Macedonian shield on the obverse and Macedonian helmet on the reverse. It is often from coins like these that archaeologists can recreate the broken, crumpled artefacts they find into what you see in the museum. These 2,400 year old coins grade in Fine meaning they have circulated at the time but this is reflected in a price of just £35 for something that was used in the markets of Alexander the Great.
£35.00
Miletos Diobol 520-450 B.C. Good Fine
The city of Miletos on the coast of modern Turkey has been occupied since the Neolithic, rising and falling a few times before this coin was made between 520-450 B.C. In 499 B.C. the Ionion Revolt started, headed by Miletos’ tyrant, Aristagoras, against the Achaemenid Persian Empire. This revolt was the first act of the famous Greco-Persian Wars! Despite a good start it was crushed by Darius the Great in 494 B.C. He killed the men, sold the women & children into slavery with the young men made eunuchs so that no Milesian would ever be born again. Don’t worry, some had escaped to Greece so Miletos survived and the Persians quickly rebuilt the city for trade. These small silver coins called a Diobol were made before and after the revolt, show a Lion on the obverse with a stellate pattern on the reverse. Archaic, Greek silver coin in Good Fine grade, nearly £2,500 years old and at under £100!
£95.00
Pacorus I (not II) A.D. 78-110. AR Drachm. GEF
We used to know Pacorus (A.D. 78-110) of the Parthian Empire as ‘the Second’ because of a Pacorus recorded in 39 B.C. but recent scholarship indicates he was only ever a prince, not king! So, the later Pacorus is now known as Pacorus the First. Not confusing at all, right?! Well, the man now known as Pacorus the First had an interesting reign. He defeated two usurpers, he supported a Nero pretender against the Romans (eventually executing him), and he expanded long distance trade with China, convincing them not to travel to Rome, keeping them all to himself! He had a long and successful reign during which time Parthia was Rome’s major rival but he lasted from Vespasian to Trajan, five emperors’ worth of stability. We have bought a group of his artistic Silver Drachms. They show his diademed bust on the obverse with his pointed beard & on the reverse the first Parthian ruler (Arsaces I) shown with blundered Greek legend around. These coins are at least Good Extremely Fine with the majority being Mint state! We don’t see Parthian groups very often but if these sell well, we will have to try to get more rulers… Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED.
£135.00
Philip I Philadelphus Tetradrachm, Extremely Fine
These silver tetradrachms of Philip I were struck around 88-75 BC and have the diademed bust of Philip I on the obverse and, on the reverse, Zeus enthroned holding a sceptre in his left hand and Nike in his right hand who is crowning Zeus with a wreath. Around the outside is the inscription (reading from right to left) Baslieou Philippou Epiphanou Philadelphou “of King Philip Philadelphos (God) Manifest”. They are very affordable large silver coins from the ancient Seleucid Empire which ruled Syria at the time. Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED.
£295.00
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