Celtic Celts Silver Tetradrachm Coin Greek King Alexander the Great NGC i61971

Description

Item:
i61971
Authentic Ancient Coin of:
Celtic Tribe of Eastern Europe
Making coins in style of Alexander III the Great - King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C.
Silver Tetradrachm 27mm (15.89 grams) under unknown Celtic Tribe 300-250 B.C.
Certification: NGC Ancients VF  4529169-014
Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress.
AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; star in field to left.
* Numismatic Note: The Celtic peoples would issue their own versions of the coins of their neighbors, such as the Greeks which have their own unique style to behold. Quality ancient Celtic coin. The Celts of Eastern Europe imitated ancient Greek coins of the time period, this one of Alexander III, the Great. The reason they did this as they traded with the Greeks and their coins were popular and recognized for trade, so they struck their own. The coins of Alexander the Great were the best known silver coins of the time. You can see the Celtic style showing on this coin along with the blundered Greek legend.
Best known as
Alexander the Great
, he was a king (
basileus
in Greek) of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. He was born in the city of Pella in 356 BC. By age 20, Alexander succeeded his father Philip II to the throne as king. He spent most of his years as king in an unprecedented military campaign of conquest through Asia, northeast Africa and even reached India. By age 30 he created one of the biggest empires in the ancient world, reaching from Greece to northwestern India. Being undefeated in battle, many consider him as one of history's most successful military commanders. He could be considered one of history's most important figures, having spread the Greek civilization far and wide, and was even admired by Julius Caesar along with many other important historical personages as well.
You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.
Click here to see all NGC CERTIFIED Coins
The Celts
were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.
Diachronic distribution of Celtic peoples:
core Hallstatt territory, by the 6th century BC  maximal Celtic expansion, by 275 BC  Lusitanian area of Iberia where Celtic presence is uncertain  the "six Celtic nations" which retained significant numbers of Celtic speakers into the Early Modern period  areas where Celtic languages remain widely spoken today
The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture (c. 800-450 BC), named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria. By the later La Tène period (c. 450 BC up to the Roman conquest), this Celtic culture had expanded over a wide range of regions, whether by diffusion or migration: to the British Isles (Insular Celts), the Iberian Peninsula (Celtiberians, Celtici and Gallaeci), much of Central Europe, (Gauls) and following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC as far east as central Anatolia (Galatians).
The earliest directly attested examples of a Celtic language are the Lepontic inscriptions, beginning from the 6th century BC. Continental Celtic languages are attested only in inscriptions and place-names. Insular Celtic is attested from about the 4th century AD in ogham inscriptions, although it is clearly much earlier. Literary tradition begins with Old Irish from about the 8th century. Coherent texts of Early Irish literature, such as the
Táin Bó Cúailnge
(
The Cattle Raid of Cooley
), survive in 12th-century recensions. According to the theory of John T. Koch and others, the Tartessian language may have been the earliest directly attested Celtic language with the Tartessian written script used in the inscriptions based on a version of a Phoenician script in use around 825 BC.
By mid 1st millennium AD, following the expansion of the Roman Empire and the Great Migrations (Migration Period) of Germanic peoples, Celtic culture and Insular Celtic had become restricted to Ireland and to the western and northern parts of Great Britain (Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and the Isle of Man) and northern France (Brittany). The Continental Celtic languages ceased to be widely used by the 6th century.
Insular Celtic culture diversified into that of the Gaels (Irish, Scottish and Manx), the Brythonic Celts (Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons) of the medieval and modern periods. A modern "Celtic identity" was constructed in the context of the Romanticist Celtic Revival in Great Britain (Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and the Isle of Man) and Ireland. In France a similar revival of Breton is taking place in Brittany.
The Greatest Military Commander of Ancient Times
Alexander the Great
Creator of an Empire stretching from Greece to India
Alexander, surnamed the Great, son of king Philip II and Olympias, was born at Pella, B.C. 356. His early education was committed to Leonidas and Lysimachos ; and he was also placed under the care of the great philosopher Aristotle, who acquired an influence over his mind and character, which was manifest to the latest period of his life.
At the age of 16 Alexander was entrusted with the government of Macedonia by his father, while he was obliged to leave his kingdom to march against Byzantium. He first distinguished himself, however, at the battle of Chaeronea (338), where the victory was mainly owing to his impetuosity and courage. On the murder of his father, Philip II in 336 B.C., Alexander ascended the throne, at the age of 20, and found himself surrounded by enemies on every side.
He first put down rebellion in his own kingdom, and then rapidly marched into Greece. His unexpected activity overawed all opposition; Thebes, which had been most active against him, submitted when he appeared at its gates ; and the assembled Greeks at the Isthmus of Corinth, with the sole exception of the Lacedaemonians (Spartans), elected him to the command against Persia, which had previously been bestowed upon his father.
He now directed his arms against the barbarians of the north, marched (early in 335) across mount Haemus, defeated the Triballi, and advanced as far as the Danube, which he crossed ; and on his return subdued the Illyrians and Taulantii. A report of his death having reached Greece, the Thebans once more took up arms. But a terrible punishment awaited them. He advanced into Boeotia by rapid marches took Thebes by assault, destroyed all the buildings, with the exception of the house of Pindar, killed most of the inhabitants, and sold the rest as slaves.
Alexander now prepared for his great expedition against Persia. In the spring of 334, he crossed the Hellespont, with about 35,000 men. Of these 30,000 were foot and 5000 horse ; and of the former only 12,000 were Macedonians. Alexander's first engagement with the Persians was on the river Granicus in Mysia (May 334), where they were entirely defeated by him. This battle was followed by the capture or submission of the chief towns on the W. coast of Asia Minor. Halicarnassus was not taken till late in the autumn, after a vigorous defense by Memnon, the ablest general of Darius, and whose death in the following year (333) relieved Alexander from a formidable opponent.
He now marched along the coast of Lycia and Pamphylia, and then N. into Phrygia and to Gordium, where he cut or untied the celebrated Gordian knot, which, it was said, was to be loosened only by the conqueror of Asia. In 333, he marched from Gordium through the centre of Asia Minor into Cilicia, where he nearly lost his life at Tarsus by a fever, brought on by his great exertions, or through throwing himself, when heated, into the cold waters of the Cydnus. Darius meantime had collected an army of 500,000 or 600,000 men, with 30,000 Greek mercenaries, whom Alexander defeated in the narrow plain of Issus. Darius escaped across the Euphrates by the ford of Thapsacus; but his mother, wife, and children fell into the hands of Alexander, who treated them with the utmost delicacy and respect.
Alexander now directed his arms against the cities of Phoenicia, most of which submitted ; but Tyre was not taken till the middle of 332, after an obstinate defense of seven months. Next followed the siege of Gaza, which again delayed Alexander two months. Afterwards, according to Josephus, he marched to Jerusalem, intending to punish the people for refusing to assist him, but he was diverted from his purpose by the appearance of the high priest, and pardoned the people. This story is not mentioned by Arrian, and rests on questionable evidence.
Alexander next marched into Egypt, which willingly submitted to him, for the Egyptians had ever hated the Persians. At the beginning of 331, Alexander founded at the mouth of the W. branch of the Nile, the city of Alexandria, and about the same time visited the temple of Jupiter Ammon, in the desert of Libya, and was saluted by the priests as the son of Jupiter Ammon.
In the spring of the same year (331), Alexander set out to meet Darius, who had collected another army. He marched through Phoenicia and Syria to the Euphrates, which he crossed at the ford of Thapsacus ; thence he proceeded through Mesopotamia, crossed the Tigris, and at length met with the immense hosts of Darius, said to have amounted to more than a million of men, in the plains of Gaugamela. The battle was fought in the month of October, 331, and ended in the complete defeat of the Persians. Alexander pursued the fugitives to Arbela (Erbil), which place has given its name to the battle, though distant about 50 miles from the spot where it was fought. Darius, who had left the field of battle early in the day, fled to Ecbatana (Hamadan), in Media.
Alexander was now the conqueror of Asia, and began to adopt Persian habits and customs, by which he conciliated the affections of his new subjects. From Arbela he marched to Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis, all of which surrendered to him. He is said to have set fire to the palace of Persepolis, and, according to some accounts, in the revelry of a banquet, at the instigation of Thais, an Athenian courtesan.
At the beginning of 330 Alexander marched from Persepolis into Media, in pursuit of Darius, whom he followed through Rhagae and the passes of the Elburz mountains, called by the ancients the Caspian Gates, into the deserts of Parthia, where the unfortunate king was murdered by Bessus, satrap of Bactria, and his associates. Alexander sent his body to Persepolis, to be buried in the tombs of the Persian kings. Bessus escaped to Bactria, and assumed the title of king of Persia.
Alexander was engaged during the remainder of the year in subduing the N. provinces of Asia between the Caspian and the Indus, namely, Hyrcania, Parthia, Aria, the Drangae and Sarangae. It was during this campaign that Philotas, his father Parmenion, and other Macedonians, were executed on the charge of treason.
In 329 Alexander crossed the mountains of the Paropamisus (the Hindoo Koosh), and marched into Bactria against Bessus, whom he pursued across the Oxus into Sogdiana. In this country Bessus was be­trayed to him, and was put to death. From the Oxus he advanced as far as the Jaxartes (the Sir), which he crossed, and defeated several Scythian tribes N. of that river. After founding a city Alexandria on the Jaxartes, he retraced his steps, and returned to Zariaspa or Bactra, where he spent the winter of 329. It was here that he killed his friend Clitus in a drunken revel.
In 328, Alexander again crossed the Oxus to complete the subjugation of Sogdiana, but was not able to effect it in the year, and accordingly went into winter quarters at Nautaca, a place in the middle of the province. At the beginning of 327, he took a mountain fortress, in which Oxyartes, a Bactrian prince, had deposited his wife and daughters. The beauty of Roxana, one of the latter, captivated the conqueror, and he accordingly made her his wife. This marriage with one of his Eastern subjects was in accordance with the whole of his policy.
Having completed the conquest of Sogdiana, he marched S. into Bactria, and made preparations for the invasion of India. While in Bactria another conspiracy was discovered for the murder of the king. The plot was formed by Hermolaus with a number of the royal pages, and Callisthenes, a pupil of Aristotle, was involved in it. All the conspirators were put to death.
Alexander did not leave Bactria till late in the spring of 327, and crossed the Indus, probably near the modem Attock. He met with no resistance till he reached the Hydaspes, where he was opposed by Porus, an Indian king, whom he defeated after a gallant resistance, and took prisoner. Alexander restored to him his kingdom, and treated him with distinguished honor. He founded two towns, one on each bank of the Hydaspes : one called Bucephala, in honor of his horse Bucephalus, who died here, after carrying him through so many victories ; and the other Nicaea, to commemorate his victory.
The phalanx attacking the centre in the Battle of the Hydaspes
by André Castaigne (1898-1899)
From thence he marched across the Acesines (the Chinab) and the Hydraotes (the Ravee), and pe­netrated as far as the Hyphasis (Garra). This was the furthest point which he reached, for the Macedonians, worn out by long service, and tired of the war, refused to advance further ; and Alexander, notwithstanding his entreaties and prayers, was obliged to lead them hack. He returned to the Hydaspes, where he had previously given orders for the building of a fleet, and then sailed down the river with about 8000 men, while the remainder marched along the banks in two divisions. This was late in the au­tumn of 327. The people on each side of the river submitted without resistance, except the Malli, in the conquest of one of whose places Alexander was severely wounded.
At the confluence of the Acesines and the Indus, Alexander founded a city, and left Philip as satrap, with a considerable body of Greeks. Here he built some fresh ships, and continued his voyage down the Indus, founded a city at Pattala, the apex of the delta of the Indus, and sailed into the Indian ocean, which he reached about the middle of 326. Nearchus was sent with the fleet to sail along the coast to the Persian gulf [Nearchus] ; and Alexander marched with the rest of his forces through Gedrosia, in which country his army suffered greatly from want of water and provisions.
He reached Susa at the beginning of 325. Here he allowed himself and his troops some rest from their labours ; and anxious to form his European and Asiatic subjects into one people, he assigned to about 80 of his generals Asiatic wives, and gave with them rich dowries. He him­self took a second wife, Barsine, the eldest daughter of Darius, and according to some accounts, a third, Parysatis, the daughter of Ochus. About 10,000 Macedonians followed the example of their king and generals, and married Asiatic women. Alex­ander also enrolled large numbers of Asiatics among his troops, and taught them the Macedonian tactics. He moreover directed his attention to the increase of commerce, and for this purpose had the Euphrates and Tigris made navigable, by removing the artificial obstructions which had been made in the river for the purpose of irrigation.
Alexander, left, and Hephaestion, right
The Macedonians, who were discontented with several of the new arrangements of the king, rose in mutiny against him, which he quelled with some difficulty. Towards the close of the same year (325) he went to Ecbatana, where he lost his great favorite Hephaestion. From Ecbatana he marched to Babylon, subduing in his way the Cossaei, a mountain tribe ; and before he reached Babylon he was met by ambassadors from almost every part of the known world. Alexander entered Babylon in the spring of 324, about a year before his death, notwithstanding the warnings of the Chaldaeans, who predicted evil to him if he entered the city at that time. He intended to make Babylon the capital of his empire, as the best point of communication between his eastern and western dominions.
His schemes were numerous and gigantic. His first object was the conquest of Arabia, which was to be followed, it was said, by the subjuga­tion of Italy, Carthage, and the West. But his views were not confined merely to conquest. He ordered a fleet to be built on the Caspian, in order to explore that sea. He also intended to improve the distribution of waters in the Babylonian plain, and for that purpose sailed down the Euphrates to inspect the canal called Pallacopas.
On his return to Babylon he was attacked by a fever, probably brought on by his recent exertions in the marshy districts around Babylon, and aggravated by the quantity of wine he had drunk at a banquet given to his principal officers. He died after an illness of 11 days, in the month of Mayor June B.C. 323,at the age of 32, after a reign of 12 years and 8 months. He appointed no one as his successor, but just before his death he gave his ring to Perdiccas. Roxana was with child at the time of his death, and afterwards bore a son who is known by the name of Alexander Aegus.
19th century depiction of Alexander's funeral procession based on the description of Diodorus
The history of Alexander forms an important epoch in the history of mankind. Unlike other Asiatic conquerors, his progress was marked by something more than devastation and ruin ; at every step of his course the Greek language and civilization took root and flourished ; and after his death Greek kingdoms were formed in all parts of Asia, which continued to exist for centuries. By his conquests the knowledge of mankind was increased ; the sciences of geography, natural history and others, received vast additions ; and it was through him that a road was opened to India, and that Europeans became acquainted with the products of the remote East.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mr. Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine, world coins & more.
Who am I dealing with?
You are dealing with Ilya Zlobin, ancient coin expert, enthusiast, author and dealer with an online store having a selection of over 15,000 items with great positive feedback from verified buyers and over 10 years experience dealing with over 57,000 ancient and world coins and artifacts. Ilya Zlobin is an independent individual who has a passion for coin collecting, research and understanding the importance of the historical context and significance all coins and objects represent. Most others are only concerned with selling you, Ilya Zlobin is most interested in educating you on the subject, and providing the largest selection, most professional presentation and service for the best long-term value for collectors worldwide creating returning patrons sharing in the passion of ancient and world coin collecting for a lifetime.
How long until my order is shipped?
Orders are shipped by the next business day (after receipt of payment) most of the time.
How will I know when the order was shipped?
After your order has shipped, you will be left positive feedback, and that date could be used as a basis of estimating an arrival date. Any tracking number would be found under your 'Purchase history' tab.
USPS First Class mail takes about 3-5 business days to arrive in the U.S. International shipping times cannot be estimated as they vary from country to country.
Standard international mail to many countries
does not
include a tracking number, and can also be slow sometimes.
For a tracking number and signature confirmation, you may want to do Express Mail International Shipping, which costs more, however, is the fastest and most secure. Additionally you may be able to receive your order in as little as 3-5 business days using this method. For Express Mail International, it may be possible to place up to 10-15 items in one package (for the one shipping cost) as it is flat rate envelope, which may be the most cost-effective, secure and fastest way to receive items internationally. Send me a message about this and I can update your invoice should you want this method.
Getting your order to you, quickly and securely is a top priority and is taken seriously here.
Great care is taken in packaging and mailing every item securely and quickly.
Please be aware, I cannot take responsibility for any postal service delivery delays, especially for international packages as it may happen in rare instances.
What is a certificate of authenticity and what guarantees do you give that the item is authentic?
Each of the items sold here, is provided with a Certificate of Authenticity, and a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity, issued by a world-renowned numismatic and antique expert that has identified over 57,000 ancient coins and has provided them with the same guarantee. You will be very happy with what you get with the COA; a professional presentation of the coin, with all of the relevant information and a picture of the coin you saw in the listing. Additionally, the coin is inside it's own protective coin flip (holder), with a 2x2 inch description of the coin matching the individual number on the COA.
On the free-market such a presentation alone, can be considered a - value all in itself, and it comes standard with your purchases from me,
FREE.
With every purchase, you are leveraging my many years of experience to get a more complete context and understanding of the piece of history you are getting. Whether your goal is to collect or give the item as a gift, coins presented like this could be more prized and valued higher than items that were not given such care and attention to.
Buy a coin today and own a piece of history, guaranteed.
Is there a money back guarantee?
I offer a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee. I stand behind my coins and would be willing to exchange your order for either store credit towards other coins, or refund, minus shipping expenses, within 30 days from the receipt of your order. My goal is to have the returning customers for a lifetime, and I am so sure in my coins, their authenticity, numismatic value and beauty, I can offer such a guarantee.
When should I leave feedback?
Once you receive your order, please leave a positive feedback. Please don't leave any negative feedbacks, as it happens sometimes that people rush to leave feedback before letting sufficient time for their order to arrive. Also, if you sent an email, make sure to check for my reply in your messages before claiming that you didn't receive a response. The matter of fact is that any issues can be resolved, as reputation is most important to me. My goal is to provide superior products and quality of service.
How and where do I learn more about collecting ancient coins?
Visit the "Guide on How to Use My Store" for on an overview about using my store, with additional information and links to all other parts of my store which may include educational information on topics you are looking for.