Thracian Kingdom. Lysimachos. Gold Stater (8.38 g), as King, 306-281 BC. Uncertain mint, early posthumous issue, after 281 BC. Diademed head of deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAΧOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting elbow on shield at side, spear leaning against far shoulder; in inner left field, monogram. Müller 501. Boldly struck and perfectly centered on a nice broad flan. A wonderful example. Superb Mint State. Estimate Value $5,000 - UP
After the death of Alexander the Great, his former bodyguard Lysimachos managed to parlay his position as strategos (military governor) of Thrace into kingship in Thrace (306 BC) and then into a great kingdom that encompassed Thrace, Macedonia, and much of western Asia Minor (301 BC). Unfortunately, family intrigues ultimately led Lysimachos to execute his popular son Agathokles in 282 BC. This sparked a revolt in Asia Minor that drew in the forces of Seleukos I and resulted in the battle of Koroupedion (281 BC). Lysimachos was killed in the fighting and his kingdom disintegrated amid war and barbarian invasion. Nevertheless, Lysimachos achieved near immortality through his coin types depicting the deified Alexander and Athena Nikephoros. These types had made such a strong impression on the peoples of Thrace and regions further to the north that they continued to be demanded as payment by mercenaries and as protection money well into the first century BC. This impressive demand was met by numerous posthumous issues struck by cities up and down the western littoral of the Black Sea and the Propontis. They are perhaps best known from Byzantion, which struck posthumous Lysimachi not only to retain domination in the Black Sea grain trade but also to pay the exorbitant tributes demanded by the Galatians of Tylis in the third century BC.