Silver ‘Lion’ Staters of Babylon 327-311 BC

Upon finishing his expeditions to the outer limits of Asia Minor, Alexander the Great led his army westward late in 331 BC. The metropolis of Babylon was surrendered by its satrap, Mazaeus, whom Alexander rewarded with the local governorship. Alexander made Babylon his royal seat, and there established one of his most important mints, from which a large quantity of regular ‘Alexandrine’ or ‘imperial’ coinages were struck. In addition to the ‘imperial’ coinages, Babylon also produced a substantial group of local coinages, some of which initially bore the name of Mazaeus, but which continued without the name of a satrap after his death in 328 B.C. These anonymous silver Staters from the mint of Babylon date from the period 327-311 BC and show, on the obverse, the God Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding a sceptre in his right hand and placing his left hand on throne. The reverse shows a lion walking left. These are impressive coins, struck on thick planchets and weigh around 16.5g. We have very limited availability but can off er them in two grades. The silver has toned over the centuries so all of the coins have a slightly dark patina. PLEASE NOTE: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED