TROAS. Alexandreia. Circa 164-135 BC. AE (Bronze, 18 mm, 5.71 g, 6 h). Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly to right; three countermarks, each in round incuse: lyre, mouse of Apollo Smintheus and head of Apollo (?) to right. Rev. [Α]-ΛΕΞ/Α-Ν Lyre; at top, countermark: head of a horse to right; at bottom, countermark: lyre. SNG Copenhagen 88. Flan faults from countermarking, otherwise, good fine.


The countermarks on the obverse all relate to Apollo Smintheus, the 'Mice-Slayer', who sometimes protected the Greeks against disease-ridden vermin and at other times punished mortal hybris by sending debilitating plagues