KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Distater (Gold, 21 mm, 17.20 g, 4 h), Amphipolis, struck under Antipater, circa 323-322. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent, single pendant earring and necklace. Rev. AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ Nike standing front, head to left, with her wings spread, holding laurel wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left; in field to left, kantharos. HGC 3.1, 892a. Müller 192. Price 167. Troxell, Studies, Group A and pl. 24, 531. Light deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good 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.