Alexander III (the Great)'s Silver Coin (about 2,350 years old)
This small silver coin is a drachm minted in the Kingdom of Macedon shortly after Alexander the Great's death, between 323-315 BC. It follows the iconic design established under Alexander's rule but was produced during the early succession period when his empire was beginning to fragment.
Coin Description:
Front side: The profile head of Heracles (Hercules) is shown wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion. Alexander often associated himself with Heracles, suggesting divine heritage and superhuman strength.
Back side: Zeus, king of the gods in Greek mythology, is depicted seated on a throne, holding his symbols of power. These Alexandrian coin designs deliberately used pan-Hellenic religious imagery rather than Alexander's own portrait.
Technical Details:
Silver composition
Drachm (a smaller denomination than the tetradrachm, used more commonly in daily transactions)
Kingdom of Macedon issue
Minted approximately 323-315 BC
Condition: Almost uncirculated (remarkably well-preserved for its age)
Technical rating: strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (indicating excellent strike quality and good surface preservation)
Historical Significance: This coin was produced during the chaotic period immediately following Alexander the Great's unexpected death in Babylon in 323 BC. While Alexander had established an enormous empire stretching from Greece to India, his sudden death without a clear successor plunged the region into conflict. These posthumous Alexander-type coins maintained the standard designs he had established, even as his generals (the Diadochi) began fighting for control of different regions. The continued production of coins in Alexander's style demonstrated attempts to maintain continuity and legitimacy by connecting to his legacy. The drachm was a more practical denomination than the larger tetradrachm, making it useful for everyday commercial transactions throughout the Hellenistic world. The excellent preservation of this particular coin suggests it may have been hoarded or lost shortly after minting, perhaps during the unstable period of the Wars of the Diadochi, thus escaping circulation wear that would normally affect coins used in commerce.
This small silver coin is a drachm minted in the Kingdom of Macedon shortly after Alexander the Great's death, between 323-315 BC. It follows the iconic design established under Alexander's rule but was produced during the early succession period when his empire was beginning to fragment.
Coin Description:
Front side: The profile head of Heracles (Hercules) is shown wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion. Alexander often associated himself with Heracles, suggesting divine heritage and superhuman strength.
Back side: Zeus, king of the gods in Greek mythology, is depicted seated on a throne, holding his symbols of power. These Alexandrian coin designs deliberately used pan-Hellenic religious imagery rather than Alexander's own portrait.
Technical Details:
Silver composition
Drachm (a smaller denomination than the tetradrachm, used more commonly in daily transactions)
Kingdom of Macedon issue
Minted approximately 323-315 BC
Condition: Almost uncirculated (remarkably well-preserved for its age)
Technical rating: strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (indicating excellent strike quality and good surface preservation)
Historical Significance: This coin was produced during the chaotic period immediately following Alexander the Great's unexpected death in Babylon in 323 BC. While Alexander had established an enormous empire stretching from Greece to India, his sudden death without a clear successor plunged the region into conflict. These posthumous Alexander-type coins maintained the standard designs he had established, even as his generals (the Diadochi) began fighting for control of different regions. The continued production of coins in Alexander's style demonstrated attempts to maintain continuity and legitimacy by connecting to his legacy. The drachm was a more practical denomination than the larger tetradrachm, making it useful for everyday commercial transactions throughout the Hellenistic world. The excellent preservation of this particular coin suggests it may have been hoarded or lost shortly after minting, perhaps during the unstable period of the Wars of the Diadochi, thus escaping circulation wear that would normally affect coins used in commerce.
This small silver coin is a drachm minted in the Kingdom of Macedon shortly after Alexander the Great's death, between 323-315 BC. It follows the iconic design established under Alexander's rule but was produced during the early succession period when his empire was beginning to fragment.
Coin Description:
Front side: The profile head of Heracles (Hercules) is shown wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion. Alexander often associated himself with Heracles, suggesting divine heritage and superhuman strength.
Back side: Zeus, king of the gods in Greek mythology, is depicted seated on a throne, holding his symbols of power. These Alexandrian coin designs deliberately used pan-Hellenic religious imagery rather than Alexander's own portrait.
Technical Details:
Silver composition
Drachm (a smaller denomination than the tetradrachm, used more commonly in daily transactions)
Kingdom of Macedon issue
Minted approximately 323-315 BC
Condition: Almost uncirculated (remarkably well-preserved for its age)
Technical rating: strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (indicating excellent strike quality and good surface preservation)
Historical Significance: This coin was produced during the chaotic period immediately following Alexander the Great's unexpected death in Babylon in 323 BC. While Alexander had established an enormous empire stretching from Greece to India, his sudden death without a clear successor plunged the region into conflict. These posthumous Alexander-type coins maintained the standard designs he had established, even as his generals (the Diadochi) began fighting for control of different regions. The continued production of coins in Alexander's style demonstrated attempts to maintain continuity and legitimacy by connecting to his legacy. The drachm was a more practical denomination than the larger tetradrachm, making it useful for everyday commercial transactions throughout the Hellenistic world. The excellent preservation of this particular coin suggests it may have been hoarded or lost shortly after minting, perhaps during the unstable period of the Wars of the Diadochi, thus escaping circulation wear that would normally affect coins used in commerce.
