Tetradrachm - Lysimachus Amphipolis

Lysimachus struck these tetradrachms at Amphipolis — a mint he inherited through his conquest of Macedonia following the battle of Ipsus in 301 BC. The coins were politically calculated: by invoking the deified Alexander on the obverse and adopting Macedonian mint infrastructure, Lysimachus was pressing a legitimacy claim over a kingdom that several Diadochi considered rightfully theirs. The Amphipolis mint had been among the most productive under Philip II and Alexander, which made it symbolically loaded as well as logistically useful.

Lysimachus was killed at the battle of Corupedium in 281 BC, making the closing date of this issue coincide precisely with the destruction of his kingdom.