GREEK, Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander III, 336-323 BC - Drachm - Signed Die

AR Drachm (16mm, 4.26g): Price 2090A

Obv.: Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress, K on skin behind ear

Rev.: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left, holding scepter and eagle; monogram in left field.
This drachm is a lifetime issue from Miletos, circa 325-323 BC. It is signed by the artist who placed a "K" on the lion skin headdress behind Alexander's ear.

One could say Ho Hum just another drachm of Alexander III, however this coin is a little more interesting than most. From Roma Numismatics Limited’s 2012 description of a specimen it sold – “Extremely Rare. Only two specimens noted in ADM I (both in the ANS collection). This, and an equally rare contemporary issue at Magnesia ad Maeandrum are the only two instances of signed dies struck for Alexander.”

I was able to find two specimens in auction records. The Roma Numismatics Limited’s 2012 specimen in ACSEARCH (don’t use Price 2090A in the search use “signed die”). The Roma Numismatics Limited’s 2012 specimen should really be listed here, as pleased as I am with my specimen the Roma Numismatics Limited’s specimen is truly superior. The second specimen I found was this specimen in the NGC ancient coin auction records. The specimen shown here was sold twice in 2015 by Heritage I purchased the coin from the second sale.