Alexander III 'the Great' AR Tetradrachm | An Extremely Rare Lifetime Issue

KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great'. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25 mm, 17.20 g, 11 h). Lifetime issue, struck 325-323 BC.

Obverse: Head of Herakles to the right, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion.

Reverse: AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left on throne, holding an eagle in his extended right hand and long scepter in his left; in left field, pentagram; Price monogram 1425 (Θ, Φ, and Σ) beneath throne, M at bottom.

Mint: Babylon.

Provenance: From a private French collection.

Notes: Super scarce; none of this type (Price 3658) are currently recorded on ACSearch, and only one example is listed on CoinArchives (Noonans Auction 177, lot 323).

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Portrait of Herakles

Alexander’s family, the Argead dynasty, claimed descent from this semi-divine figure of Greek mythology, the epitome of heroism. The first of Herakles’ Twelve Labors was to slay the Nemean Lion, whose skin was impervious to damage from weapons. The demigod used his herculean strength to strangle the beast to death, and thereafter wore its skin as his invincible armor.

Although it has been suggested that Alexander included his own facial features in the depictions of Herakles on his coinage, i.e. his trademark prominent brow and strong nose, it is more plausible that the obverse just depicts Herakles and not Alexander. The main reason is because his father, the illustrious Philip II, also minted coins with Herakles on the obverse, with the same prominent brow and strong nose, and these coins were minted before Alexander was born.

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King of Asia

According to scholars, the “seated deity motif” on the reverse adopted by Alexander was inspired by coins minted in the city of Tarsos, in Asia. By blending Greek culture with those of his conquered peoples, the Macedonian King of Asia ushered in a new age: the Hellenistic Era.

Reference : Price 3658.

Collection : Virgo Ancients