THRACE, Kingdom of
Lysimachos, 306-281 BC
AE18. 3.75g, 17.8mm
MINTED: THRACE, Lysimacheia, circa 305-281 BC
REF: HGC 3.2, 1758
OBVERSE: Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet.
REVERSE: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Lion leaping right; below, kerykeion, monogram and spearhead.
 
Grade/Notes:
Fine/Good. Weathered teal green patina. 
 
Provenance:
Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection
Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001) was born in Romania, and during World War II, she and her husband Vladimir were sent by the Gestapo to Buchenwald concentration camp. They survived their 3-year imprisonment and when the war was over, moved to Italy, where they worked in the numismatic trade. In 1951, they moved to the United States, where their knowledge and passion for numismatics led to them becoming curators of National Numismatics Collection at the Smithsonian. Together, they were also authors of numerous important reference works and curated an excellent personal collection of coins.
 
Historical Notes:
Lysimachos was one of the diadochi, or successors, of Alexander the Great.  After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his vast empire was carved up by his generals and officers, with Lysimachos given rule over Thrace and its warlike tribes.  Lysimachos's personal badge was the lion; he was known to have accompanied Alexander on lion hunts, and was said to have once even killed a lion with his bare hands.

In 301 BC, Lysimachos in concert with Seleukos I Nikator defeated Antigonos the One-Eyed, a fellow diadochi, becoming king over much of Antigonos's possessions in Asia Minor.  From 288-281 BC, he also became King of Macedon, ruling jointly with Pyrrhos of Epeiros.  In 281 BC, an aged Lysimachos went to war against an equally old Seleukos.  At the Battle of Corupedium, he was defeated and killed at the age of 80.