Ancient Coin Stories

This coin differs from all of my other “Era of the Diadochi” coins in that it doesn’t target a specific ruler, but an age. The years 288 to 277 BCE were not happy ones in ancient Macedonia. War ravaged the country, ruled by a plethora of ill-fated rulers. The gorgon in the center of the coin says it all, in my opinion.

It all started when Demetrios I Poliorcetes was ousted from the Macedonian throne by the combined forces of Lysimachos, Ptolemy I Soter, and Pyrrhos. Demetrios had taken the throne in 291 BCE by murdering Kassander’s son, Alexander V, but his departure left a vacuum.

For a short period of time, Pyrrhos was left in charge of Macedonia, then ruled jointly in Lysimachos. This partnership didn’t last too long, and in 285 BCE Lysimachos ousted him.

Things didn’t get better for Macedonia when Ptolemy Keraunos arrived fresh off his father Ptolemy’s rejection for the throne, in favor of his stepbrother Ptolemy II Philadelphos. Ptolemy Keraunos’ presence at the court of Lysimachos caused problems, since Lysimachos was bound by treaties unfavorable to his guest, but he was also married to his sister, Arsinoe II.

Arsinoe II and Ptolemy Keraunos plotted against Lysimachos, and tricked him into killing his own son Agathocles in 284 BCE. This move was loathed in the kingdom, and cost Lysimachos much support. His son’s widow ran to Seleukos, who invaded in 281 BCE and slew Lysimachos.

Seleukos I Nikator was now the ruler of an empire almost the size of Alexander the Great’s, but he barely had the opportunity to relish it. Not long after the victory, Seleukos and Ptolemy Keraunos went to pray together, and while Seleukos was in prayer Keraunos stabbed him in the back and ended another of the diadochi.

Now the ruler of Macedonia, Ptolemy Keraunos attempted to enlarge it by marrying his half sister, Arsinoe II. Her one request was for the safety of her two young children, but Keraunos murdered both on her wedding day and she fled.

Matters became worse for Macedonia when the Gauls invaded in 279 BCE. Ptolemy Keraunos, being his rash self, refused the aid of a neighboring king and didn’t bother to wait for his full army before meeting the invading force in battle. The result was a massive defeat, and Keraunos’ head was paraded on a spike by the Gauls.

The Gauls proceeded to rape and pillage the country for the next two years, until Antigonos II Gonatas, Demetrios‘ son, finally restored order in 77 BCE.