Assistance Required with a Couple of Alexander-type Tetradrachms

[OldMoney]

Having done a lot of searching for something similar, I thought I'd put this pair to the group for your opinions and assistance.

This die-matched pair are clearly what may be termed Barbarous/Celtic/Eastern/etc., but I cannot find a direct prototype or comparative example. Nor can I find a more positive attribution for them, except that they are 'unofficial' Alexanders.

Both show a stylised Head of Herakles on the obverse, and the standard Zeus enthroned holding eagle and sceptre on the reverse. Weights: 16.49g (upper), 16.54g (lower). Both share the same field symbol, a reversed Sigma (Σ), and a fairly accurate rendering of the name 'Alexander' (AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ).

Whether these are Danubian, Eastern Celts, Arabian, or from some other origin has so far escaped my searching, including a number of publications, and various online resources such as acsearch, wildwinds, the 'Pella' database, and various other auction, sales and museum sites.

I expect there is another coin out there with this same obverse die, but in spite of finding a few that are close I am yet to find a match.

Can you help with any part of this search?
Die(s)? Origin? Reference? Prototype? . . . Thoughts?

- Walter

[djmacdo]

Weights?  I think both may be Celtic imitations from the Balkans.

[Altamura]

... Weights?  ...

Is indicated above ("16.49g (upper), 16.54g (lower)")  .

For these contemporary imitations you don't always find an exactly matching prototype. Even in the Price itself there are listed some under the headline "uncertain prototypes"  .

There is a huge number of these imitations in many many variations. And up to now there seems to be no comprehensive study about them  .

Regards

Altamura

[djmacdo]

My apologies--I completely missed the weights when I read you post too hastily.

Mac

[OldMoney]

Hi Mac,
I have done the same thing myself too many times to count - I am sure we all have!
I keep looking at Danubian examples which have similar scrunched-up facial features
but cannot be certain because of similarity alone.
It may be that there is no 'prototype' as such, and this is a stand-alone variant of the
imitation. Still, it would be nice to find a die-match, but until that happens I will wait,
and see what comes up at the next auction/catalogue/post/find/etc.
Best wishes,

- Walter

[djmacdo]

Walter,

It seems to me that I have the same of similar reverse with the big sigma in the field, but I cannot remember or find where.  If these are initiations as I believe they are, they must be early as they are quite good.