★ Pankration, the Olympic boxing and wrestling event ★

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.30 g, 3 h), Aigai (?), struck under Antipater, circa 328/7-323/2. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, pankratiast standing left, in ‘guard’ position. Price 187. Rare and with a very interesting reverse symbol. Extremely fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

Pankration was an Olympic boxing and wrestling event with hardly any rules except for the prohibition of biting and gouging the opponent's eyes.