Celtic, Danube Region. c2nd Century BC. Silver Tetradrachm. Alexander III.

Description

Celtic, Danube Region – Silver Tetradrachm, c. 2nd Century BC

Issuer: Alexander III
Date: c. 2nd Century BC
Region: Danube Region

Specifications:

• Diameter: 28 mm
• Weight: 14.48 g

Obverse:

• Design: Stylized head of Herakles (Hercules), depicted with a lion skin, though the lion skin is rendered as a prominent bulge.

Reverse:

• Design: Zeus enthroned left, holding a scepter and eagle. A double ax monogram is placed before Zeus, with an additional ‘I’ beneath the throne.

Condition:

• Grade: Not specified, described as per its details and characteristics.

Historical Context:

Alexander III (Herakles Type):

• Background: This coin is a product of the Celtic adaptation of Greek coinage and iconography. The use of Alexander the Great’s image, often associated with Herakles, indicates the influence of Hellenistic culture on local Celtic traditions in the Danube region.
• Herakles (Hercules): The obverse features a stylized representation of Herakles, symbolizing strength and heroic deeds. The lion skin is a reference to his famous labor of slaying the Nemean Lion.
• Zeus: On the reverse, Zeus is depicted as a divine figure with attributes of power and sovereignty. The scepter and eagle emphasize his authority. The double ax (labrys) and the ‘I’ below the throne are indicative of local or regional symbolism that incorporates elements of Greek religious iconography.

Collectibility:

• Historical and Artistic Value: This tetradrachm is valuable due to its unique blend of Celtic and Greek artistic elements. It reflects the cultural exchange between the Greek world and the Celtic tribes of the Danube region during the 2nd century BC.

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