004c Mesembria, Thrace, Alexander III posthumous issue

Greece, Macedonia, Alexander III, 336 – 323 and posthumous issues

Ruler: Tetradrachm in name and typed of Alexander III, Mesembria circa 275-225

Obverse:  Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress. 

Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ – ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; holding sceptre and eagle; in outer left field, Corinthian helmet r. above ME monogram.

Denomination: Tetradrachm

Mint: Mesembria, Thrace

Reference:  Price 977

Weight: 17,14 g

Diameter: 29 mm

Note: Virtually as struck and on a very large flan!

Mesembria (nowadays Nessebar, Bulgaria),  was an important Greek city in ancient Thrace. It was situated on the coast of the Euxine and at the foot of Mount Haemus; consequently upon the confines of Moesia, in which it is placed by Ptolemy. Mesembria was one of the cities, forming the Greek Pentapolis on the Euxine, the other four being Odessus, Tomi, Istriani and Apolloniatae. Mesembria is rarely mentioned in history, but it continued to exist till a late period, being recorded by Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, and Ptolemy, and appearing in the Peutinger Table.The Dorian colonisation is dated to the beginning of the 6th century BCE, and evidence shows that it was an important trading centre from then on and a rival of Apollonia. It remained the only Dorian colony along the Black Sea coast, as the rest were typical Ionian colonies. At 425/4 BCE the town joined the Delian League, under the leadership of Athens.

Collection : 17 Greek Tetradrachms and staters