Macedon Koinon. Pseudo-autonomous
Time of Gordian III (238-244 CE)
Æ 28mm, 13.79 gm, 12h
Obv: AΛEΞANΔPOY. Diademed head of Alexander right; lightning bolt (blitz) below neck on right.
Rev: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN B NE – Ω below E, Alexander standing on left, placing harness on Bucephalus rearing on right.
AMNG III 557
This coin illustrates the story told by Plutarch (though certainly taken from a lost source) of Alexander the Great taming Bucephalus. The horse was offered to Philip II at the exorbitant sum of 13 talents, and so he refused. However, Alexander, seeing the spirit in the horse, offered to tame him, or otherwise pay the sum if he failed.
The text of B NE indicates the coin was minted during the second neokoros, or sometime after 231 CE. This type is not extremely rare, but is very popular and thus tends to sell high.