720.  ALEXANDRINE  EMPIRE OF BABYLON . Circa  328-311 BC. AR  Double Shekel
(16.94  gm). Baal  seated left,  holding sceptre  / Lion walking  left; ANT
monogram above.  Nicolet-Pierre, "Argent  et Or Frappés  en Babylonie Entre
331 et  311 ou de Mazdai  a Séleucos," in Essays to Le  Rider, pg. 294, 15;
Traité 795; SNG Berry 1457. VF. ($400)

The ‘lion staters’ of Babylon were an important local component of
Alexander the Great’s eastern coinage. Based on a Cilician prototype, they
were introduced by Alexander and survived for nearly half a century. Early
issues belong to the Babylonian satrapies of Mazaeus (331-328) and his
successor, Mazakes. The later issues with a pentagram or anchor above the
lion were struck under Seleukos, who was satrap of Babylon from 321-317/6
and from 312 onward. Most scholars favor the second satrapy for Seleukos’
lion staters. The denomination is usually described as a stater or
tetradrachm, but most likely is a two-shekel of the Babylonian standard of
ca. 8.4 grams. Historically, the earliest pieces are linked with the
5-shekel and 2-shekel ‘Poros’ coinages of Alexander.


CNG Mail bid sale #58, 18 Sept 2001, lot 720.
 
 Lot sold for $500.


Used by permission of CNG, www.historicalcoins.com