Tetradrachma

After Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC) died, many years of wars between the commanders of his army - the Diadochi, led to the division of the Macedonian empire. In Thrace and north-western Asia Minor, power passed to Lysimachus, who in 306 BC assumed the title of king (basileus). In the following years, he added Macedonia to his rule. Lysimachus' reign was unsettled, with constant wars with other Diadochi and a strict financial policy causing discontent among the inhabitants of Greek cities. Minting made use of the Attic weight system inherited from Alexander of Macedon and the mints that had previously operated. The gold and silver coins bore divine images of Alexander and Athena, which was intended to propagate power and victory. Reference to the legend of Alexander was to legitimise the right to the legacy of the great leader, who was considered a god after his death. Lysimachus did not feel worthy of having his image on coins. On the presented tetradrachm, Alexander's head is portrayed in profile with a ram's horn, a divine attribute of the ancient Egyptian Ammon. On the reverse side, we can see a very decorative representation of a seated Athena in a helmet, with a spear, a shield and a Nike figurine in her right hand. The goddess resembled Fidias' sculpture on the Acropolis (Athena Parthenos). An attractive helmet with a triple crest was clearly depicted on her head; in the statue it was decorated with a sphinx and two griffins with wings of Pegasus. The hair weaves coming out from under the helmet are also visible. The name of Lysimachus AYΣIMAXOY and the royal title BAΣIΛEΩΣ (basileus) appeared in the field of the tetradrachm. Each element had its own symbolism and carried an ideological message. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was supposed to take care of the king and the prosperity of the country, Nike symbolised victory and the trident Poseidon. Because of its geographical location, Byzantiin meant dominion over the seas.

Genowefa Horoszko