KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Distater (Gold, 22 mm, 17.17 g, 12 h), Amphipolis, struck under Antipater, circa 325-323/2. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPOY Nike standing front, head to left, with her wings spread, holding laurel wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left; to left, thunderbolt. Price 163. Troxell, Studies, Group A, 545. Well struck on a broad flan. Light deposits and with a few tiny marks, otherwise, very fine.


Alexander's distaters were called χρυσοῖ Ἀλεξάνδρειοι μεγάλοι, meaning 'large staters of Alexander.' Weighing just over 17 grams, they matched the weight of the king's Attic tetradrachms - but in gold. Given the prevailing gold-to-silver ratio of 1:10, this meant they were valued at ten Attic tetradrachms or forty Attic drachms.