Macedonia, Akanthus, silver Tetradrachm, magistrate Alexios C, 370-60 BC

Macedonia, Akanthus, silver Tetradrachm, magistrate Alexios c, 370-360 BC, bull crouching to left, attacked by lion leaping on its back to right. In exergue, AΛEΞIOΣ, rev. AKA - NΘ - ION, rev, quadripartite square with granulated raised fields; all within incuse square, 14.16g, 4h (De Nanteuil 757 (these dies). Desneux 151. BMC 25). From an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s. Light old cabinet tone and about extremely fine.

This silver tetradrachm was minted at Akanthos, an important ancient city in Macedonia, around 370-360 BC under the magistrate Alexios. The coin features a powerful and distinctive scene on the obverse, a lion attacking a bull, a design that had been associated with Akanthos for centuries and may have reflected the city's wealth and connections with the wider eastern Mediterranean world. On the reverse is the inscriptionΑΚΑΝΘΙΟΝ (AKANTHION), identifying the city, together with a characteristic quadripartite incuse design. Akanthos was founded in the 7th century BC by settlers from Andros and developed into a prosperous trading centre because of its natural harbour, agricultural production, forests, and nearby silver resources. Its coins circulated widely, demonstrating the city's importance in regional and international trade. During the Persian Wars, Akanthos cooperated with Xerxes, while later it became involved in the struggles between Athens, Sparta, and the Chalcidian League. The city eventually came under the control of Philip II of Macedon around 350 BC. Today, the ancient site is associated with modern Ierissos in northern Greece, making this tetradrachm a fascinating surviving piece of Akanthos's commercial and political history.