350-250 BCE
Æ 14mm, 3.63 gm, 8h
Obv: (ΛΑΜ?), Helmeted head of Athena, right.
Rev: ΨΑ, forepart of Pegasos right, dolphin, right below.
BMC__. Like BMC 63, except helmeted head of Athena, right. SNG Cop__; von Aulock__
Lampsakos is the site of one of the more humorous episodes of the invasions of Alexander. Since the inhabitants were pro-Persian, Alexander wasn’t overly fond of them. Aware that Alexander was considering their annihilation, they sent Anaximenes to beg for their pardon.
Of course, Alexander was well aware of Anaximenes’ intentions, so he boasted to his staff and swore to the gods that he would do the exact opposite of what Anaximenes asked. Luckily for Lampsakos, Anaximenes got wind of this arrangement. So, when he reached Alexander, he made the following request.
‘Please do this for me, your majesty: enslave the women and children of Lampsacus, burn their temples, and raze the city to the ground.’
Aware that he’d given an oath, Alexander begrudgingly pardoned the people of Lampsakos.
The city itself was at some time colonized by both Phokaia and Miletos. Pretty much anyone and everyone marched in there, such as Lydia, Athens, Sparta, and Persia.
Quite a few historians and philosophers hailed from Lampsakos.
3rd century BCE
Æ 10 mm, 1,19 g
Obv: Male bust within dotted border
Rev: ΛΑΜ within laurel wreath. Monogram(?) below
Unpublished