★ A particularly fine example, sharply struck ★

MACEDON. Akanthos. Circa 380-350 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 14.33 g, 5 h), struck under the magistrate Alexios, circa 350s. ΑΛΕΞΙOΣ Lion to right, attacking bull collapsing to left. Rev. ΑΚΑ-Ν-ΘΙΟ-Ν in shallow incuse square around quadripartite square with stippled quarters in relief. Desneux 150 var. ( dies not recorded ). HGC 3.1, 391. SNG ANS -. Tselekas, period G, ( both dies unrecorded ). A sharply struck and attractive example, with the reverse especially crisp. Extremely fine.

From a European collection formed prior to 2005.

The lion and bull tetradrachms of Akanthos were issued in very large numbers for export to take advantage of the abundant silver in the area. As a result they are found over a wide area in the East, ranging from Egypt to the borders of India (their type was an ancient eastern symbol as well). Since the publication of Desneux's die-study in Revue belge de Numismatique 95 of 1949, Les tétradrachmes d'Akanthos, not only have a large number of new dies appeared (as, for example, the dies of this coin), but also a few new magistrates.