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Tetradrachm - Perseus Pella or Amphipolis
| Issuer | Kingdom of Macedonia |
|---|---|
| Year | 173 BC - 171 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | An eagle with spread wings stands to the right upon a thunderbolt, a symbol of Macedonian royal authority. The legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΕΡΣΕΩΣ runs around the design, with the control mark Φ appearing above the eagle and a monogram of ΑΥ to the right. A monogram of ΑΝ appears between the eagle's legs. The entire composition is enclosed within an oak wreath, with a plow depicted below as an additional control symbol. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Perseus was the last king of Macedon, and these tetradrachms were struck in the final years before Rome dismantled the kingdom entirely at Pydna in 168 BC. The three-year window of this issue corresponds almost exactly to the buildup toward that war — Rome had already delivered its ultimatum, and Perseus was simultaneously negotiating alliances and minting heavily, likely to fund mercenaries and subsidize potential allies who largely failed to materialize when fighting actually began.
The attribution to either Pella or Amphipolis reflects a genuine scholarly dispute that SNG Copenhagen and Mamroth resolve differently. Amphipolis became the dominant mint after Pydna, which complicates retroactive die studies.