Alexander III the Great
Born 356 B.C. , King of Macedonian Empire 336-323 B.C.

 
Silver Tetradrachm, 25.5 mm, 17.2 grams.
O:  Head of young Herakles right, wearing a lion's skin.
R:  Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle and scepter.  In the left field, a herm. What's a herm?
Struck at Amphipolis, c.336-323 BC.

 

 
Silver Tetradrachm, 27 x 23 mm, 17.3 grams.
O:  Head of young Herakles right, wearing a lion's skin.
R:  Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle and scepter.  In the left field, a nude boxer in Greek boxing pose.
Struck at Aegae, c. 336-323 BC.

 

 
Silver Tetradrachm, 25.5 x 24.5 mm, 16.9 grams.
O:  Head of young Herakles right, wearing a lion's skin.
R:  Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle and scepter.  In the left field, a rooster.
Struck at Amphipolis, c.325-323 BC.

Nearly identical coins were struck for years after his death, with relatively minor differences involving control marks seen on the reverse.  (The herm is the control mark on the first coin, the boxer on the second, the rooster on the third.)  No coins issued during Alexander's lifetime bear his portrait.  For an early coin with his portrait, see Ptolemy I.


Alexander III of Macedonia, one of the greatest conquerors of all time, conquered the Persian empire and annexed it to Macedonia.

The son of Philip II, Alexander was presented to the army as king in 336 BC, upon the mysterious assassination of his father.  He proceeded to conquer most of the known world, bringing Greek armies as far as India within the next ten years.  He died of fever in Babylon, without naming a successor.

The success of his ambition, at immense cost in human terms, spread a veneer of Greek culture far into central Asia, and some of it -- supported and extended by the Hellenistic dynasties -- lasted for a long time.  Just as he brought Greek influence to the Eastern world, he opened up the Greek world to new Oriental influences, which prepared the way for Christianity.
 
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