The many hats of Alexander the great: Get out of my dreams and into my coin cabinet

The title may be miss leading. Though, yes, this is a dream coin, this is not about all of the different abilities of Alexander the great. Certainly he was an amazing King, King of Kings, Pharaoh, Statesman, planner, administrator oh and apparently he was also a general?!? Who knew
That's not this post though. This is literally about the different "hats" of Alexander. The man was given not only the world's greatest head of hair, but also shown to wear many different things on his head!
I'll start with my latest dream coin recently acquired from the last Obols auction by Nomos!
The helmeted Alexander:

Seleukos I Nikator,
312-281 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16.5 mm, 4.25 g, 12 h), probably Seleukeia on the Tigris, after circa 305/4 BC . Bust of Alexander the Great to right, as Dionysos, wearing helmet covered with a panther skin and adorned with a bull's horn and ear, and with a panther's skin tied around his shoulders. Rev. ΒΑΣIΛΕΩΣ [ΣΕ]ΛΕΥΚΟΥ Nike standing to right, placing wreath on trophy; between Nike and trophy, monogram. HGC 9, 35. SC 197. Toned. Very fine. Ex: Nomos Obols

Now yes, as @Terence Cheesman very astutely put it in the interesting coin thread by @Marsman, "For years there has been a debate as to whom is depicted on the obverse. The three main contenders were Alexander the Great Seleukos I Nikator or the god Dionysos." (Would love to see that tet again, if you have time ).
However, due to later Roman provincial coins like this:

MACEDON, Koinon of Macedon: Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Gordian III (238-244). Beroea mint. 9.4gr, 25mm.
Obv: AΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Head of Alexander the Great right, wearing crested Attic helmet with griffin on the bowl
Rev: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN B NЄΩΚΟΡ, Warrior right on horseback right (presumed to be Alexander on Bucephalus); star below.
Cf. AMNG III 770.
Scarce. Alexander’s name clear.
Ex: AMCC 2 consigned by tenbobbit

I tend (so want) to believe it still is ATG.
Certainly, he always looks majestic with an elephant skin on his head! (Must've been the non African elephants to fit on Alexander's head)

Ptolemy I Soter
305-282 BCE. Æ (15mm, 3.85 g, 12h). Tyre mint. Struck after 294 or 289/8 BC. Diademed head of Alexander the Great right / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings displayed.

Of course he liked to dress up like Herakles:
It is debatable on many coin types if it's supposed to be Alexander as Herakles or just the herky jerk himself:

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AR tetradrachm (15.98 gm). About VF, countermark, graffito. Late posthumous issue of Perga, dated CY 27 (195/4 BC). Heracles wearing lion-skin, AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left on backless throne, right leg drawn back, feet on ground line, eagle in right hand, scepter in left; KI in left field, Seleucid anchor countermark in rectangle in outer right field. Price 2941

He is caught on many coins wearing the horn of Zues Ammon:

Lysimachos
Pella,305-281 BC.
Tetradrachm AR 27mm., 15,95g. Head of the deified Alexander the Great to right, wearing diadem with fluttering ends and with the horn of Ammon around his ear / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena, wearing robes and helmet, seated to left on throne, holding Nike on her right hand and resting her left elbow on large round shield adorned with a gorgoneion; to left monogram. very fine. Thompson 253; Müller 471.

Possibly he liked to dress up as the winged head of Medusa (don't judge. And what's up with all of Seleukos coins looking like ATG but we still aren't sure if its him??):

Seleukos I Nikator
312-281 BCE. Æ (15mm, 2.48 g,). Uncertain mint. Winged head of Medusa right / Bull butting right; controls not visible.
Former SAVOCA coin

But again, when you have a head of hair like this, who needs hats???


MACEDON. Koinon
Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Gordian III (238-244). Ae.Obv: ΑΛЄZΑΝΔΡΟV.
Head of Alexander the Great right (as Hercules), wearing lion skin.Rev: KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN NЄΩ.
Alexander on his horse, Bucephalus, galloping right.
AMNG III 734.
Very fine. 11.9 g.24 mm.
Former SAVOCA coin

So please, show off those coins of all the different likenesses of Alexander the great, the Diadochi, observations and opinions (along with coins of course) are always appreciated

 

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As I have told you before, wonderful example of the type! Congratulations on your awesome addition!

 

Very nice!
Two of my dream coins are a tetradrachm of that variety and one of the types struck by Pergamon showing a deified Seleucus.

 

An Alexander with an elephant cap, Ptolemy II, 260-246 bc.

 

Fantastic new addition @Ryro , love that Seleukos drachm! Great style with that helmet, and I really like the Nike/trophy reverse too. Here are a couple of posthumous Alexander drachms with a lion skin cap:


Alexander III the Great (posthumous issue), AR Drachm (19 mm, 4.33 g) Magnesia, circa 301-299 BC., Head of Herakles r., wearing lion skin headdress/ Rev.AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left, holding scepter in his l. hand and eagle standing r. with closed wings in his r.; monogram of AN above E to l., below throne, monogram of AY. Price 1996.


Alexander III ‘the Great’ (posthumous issue), AR Drachm, (19 mm, 4.18 g), struck under Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Kolophon, c. 310-301. Head of youthful Herakles in lion's skin headdress to r./ Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated l., holding scepter in his l. hand and eagle in his r., to left, Φ; below throne, AP monogram. Price 1828.

 

@Ryro ! Brother! That is a stunning new addition and you can color me jealous. I always thought it would be kind of cool if this type did show Seleukos Nikator.

Some people theorize that some mints showed the likeness of Alexander on the coins that were nominally portraits of Hercules so maybe wily ol’ Seleukos snuck his own face on a coin that was nominally Alexander or Dionysos? Who knows but fun and very desirable coin.

I’ll pile on with my Lysimachus tet and Alexander lifetime bronze.


Is This What Alexander the Great Looked Like? A Diadochi Tetradrachm


A Lifetime Issue of Alexander the Great with Interesting Interpretations

 

Faaaantastic score! I don't have one to show (though I'd love to have one someday), but do have a Medusa-Alexander...

SELEUKID KINGDOM. Seleukos I Nikator.
AE20. 6.1g, 20mm, Antioch mint, circa 280 BC. SC 21.2; HGC 9, 92. O: Winged head of Medusa (resembling Alexander the Great) right. R: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΣΕΛΕΥΚOY, bull butting right; [Ξ] below.

Oliver Hoover has an article (available online) which responds to Hadley's theory that the helmeted head is that of Alexander. Hoover thinks it's Seleukos, but admits it's not possible to say for sure. I lean towards Hoover's conclusions, but in any case, it really is such a great type and that's an excellent example.

 

That Ptolemy I is an absolute ancient masterpiece! I drool everytime I see it
But ALL are beauties
I WILL have a beautiful silver elephant headdress someday... but for now here's my lesser bronze:

Ptolemy III Euergetes

AE Obol. Alexandria Mint 246-222 BCE. Obverse: Deified head of Alexander the Great right, wearing elephant skin. Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head right, cornucopia over shoulder; E between legs. References: Svoronos 976; SNG Copenhagen 232. Size: 24mm, 10.36g. Numismatic Notes: Good VF grade and done in choice style!

 

Congratulations on your beautifull addition@Ryro

 

Congrats on that awesome drachm of Seleukos @Ryro it leaves little doubt as to why it is a dream coin. I am very glad, and a bit envious, that you picked it up. With your love of the Diadochi it has found a great home. Also, the AE of Ptolemy I Soter is a great coin too.

I'll add a tetradrachm from Pergamon that was minted to honor Seleukos I. Of all the coins in my collection it has my favorite depiction of Alexander.

 

..you are the indeed the Freak of the Greeks @Ryro (not that i aint kinda one meself^^) !..3 Alex de 3 for ya...

 

That portrait is stunning! Alexander's gaze is piercing I can see why it's your favorite depiction... (in my best Dangerfield) it's everybody's favorite depiction
Here's another deep deep gaze but in ae:

Alexander III the Great
336-323 B.C. AE 20 (19.5 mm, 5.74 g). Uncertain mint in Western Asia Minor, ca. 323-310 B.C. Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, bow in bow-case (w/countermark) above and club, the weapons of Hercules; torch in field below.

 

Those are all lovely coins. I definitely like the gaze from @TheRed and @Ryro coins! These Alexandrian-type coins are very addictive and I have been on the hunt for a few different varieties. Here are a few in my collection:

Sicily, Akragas: Anonymous (425-406 BCE) Æ Hemilitron (SNG ANS 1065)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress, within circular counterstamp
Rev: Blank
Dim: 28.46 mm, 15.82 gm



Seleukid Empire: Seleukos II Kallinikos (246-226 BCE) Æ Unit, Sardes (SC 657.8; HGC 9, 344)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ; Apollo seated left on omphalos, testing arrow and resting hand on grounded bow; in outer left and right fields, monograms



Seleukid Empire: Seleukos I Nikator (312 -281 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Babylon II (Price 3349; SC C94.7d; HGC 9, 10g)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue; Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; anchor and monogram to left; Π below throne
Dim: 28mm, 17.19 g, 8h



Aeolis, Temnos: Magistrates Echenikos and Geitas (ca. 150-143 BCE) AR Tetradrachm (Price 1690)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, EXENI/KOΣ in two lines above oinochoe within vine tendril; ΓEI/TAΣ in two lines below throne



Celtic, Eastern Europe: Imitation of Philip III of Macedon (ca. 3rd-2nd century BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Mint in the lower Danube region (OTA 579; KMW 1468)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in semi-corrupt form; Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; two monograms in left field, Greek Z below throne




Ionia, Erythrai: Anonymous (550-500 BCE) EL Hekte (SNG Kayhan 737–8; SNG von Aulock 1942; Boston MFA 1806–7)
Obv: Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin
Rev: Quadripartite incuse square; two quarters partially filled-in



Roman Imperial: Commodus (177-192 CE) Æ As, Rome (RIC III 644; MIR 18, 853-4/72) Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL; Head right, wearing lion-skin headdress
Rev: HER CVL RO MAN AV GV SC in four lines divided by upright club; all within wreath

 

Roman Imperial: Anonymous (ca. 3rd Century CE) Pb Seal
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress
Rev: Bow in bow-case or club




Roman Republic: Anonymous (ca. 211 BCE) Æ Quadrans, Uncertain Sardinian, Sicilian, or non-Roman Italian Mint (Crawford 56/5; Sydenham 143c/679c)
Obv: Head of Hercules right, wearing lion skin; ••• to left
Rev: Prow of galley right; ROMA above, ••• below
Dim: 20mm, 5.23 g, 6h



Kings of Paeonia: Audoleon (ca. 315-286 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Damastion or Astibos Mint (Price 654; Waggoner, Reflexions, Issue XII, dies 26/c; Peykov E4320; HGC 3.1, 157)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; HP monogram in left field
Dim: 26.5mm, 17.03 g, 9h



Macedonian Kingdom: Alexander III ' the Great' (336-323 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Odessus (Price 1181a; Muller 419)
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress
Rev: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue, monogram to left, monogram below throne



Sicily, Syracuse: Pyrrhos (278-276 BCE) Æ Unit (B&S Type 5; BAR Issue 52; HGC 2, 1451; Sear 1213var)
Obv: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ; Head of Herakles left, wearing lion-skin
Rev: Athena Promachos advancing right, holding thunderbolt and shield; trident head to left




Gades: Anonymous (ca. 2nd century BCE) Æ As (SNG BM Spain 228; Burgos 1010; ACIP 666)
Obv: Head of Melkart-Herakles left, wearing lion's skin headdress
Rev: Phonetician legend (MP'L) above and ('GDR) below; Cescent with central pellet, Phonetician ‎ (Aleph) and central pellet between two tunny-fish left
Dim: 11.11g

 

Thanks my man! And good point. I am so ATG hungry that I sometimes forget the lack of and importance of seeing the Diadochi's likeness on coinage.
How AMAZING would it be to see some coinage with the portrait of old Antigonus Monophthalmus "The one eyed" (whom I have never seen a likeness of) or Pyrrhus on coinage!?!?



And I LOVE that Lysimachos Tet of yours Wonderful shield reverse. Do you believe it's a lion or a winged Medusa head?

 

Great coin! really like that obverse. Here's an AIII for you:

Kings of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC, AE Unit, Uncertain mint in Macedon, Lifetime issue
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev: Club and bow in bow-case
Ref: Price 268

And here's the odd reason I liked this coin - it reminded me of:

L. Procilius, 80 BC, AR serrate denarius
Obv: Head of Juno Sospita right; S C behind
Rev: Juno Sospita, holding spear and shield, in biga right, serpent below; L PROCILI F in exergue.
Ref: Crawford 379/2

 

I think on mine it is pretty clearly a lion. This type was minted for such a long period it wouldn’t surprise me to find variations with something else though.

 

Thanks for the nice writeup and great coins, @Ryro . Congrats on those acquisitions!

Here are my Alexander "Likeness" Coins:

FAT HEAD

Makedon Alexander III the Great AE17 5.6g 325-310 Alex-Herakles lion skin - B A bow case club Coiled SNAKE Price 385


1970's BIG HAIR


RR Macedon occupation Alexander - Club Coin chest Quaestor Chair wreath Aesillas Quaestor AR Tet Thessalonika Mint BC 90-70


SERIOUS LOOK

Lysimachos was always an INTENSE DUDE


Thrace -Lysimachos AR Tet 14.3g 28.7mm 305-281 BCE RARE Alexander head-Ammon horns - rev Lysimachos Athena

 

Hi All,

I didn't see an early Ptolemaic Alexander in elephant scalp stater (tetradrachm), so here goes:



References: Svoronos 153, pl v, 22-23 [14 listed]; Zervos (1974), Issue 61 [33 recorded, from 9 obverse dies]. Zervos (1976), Artist C, Style 1. Obverse die link known with CPE 84; another obverse die link with CPE 85-88.

This one is Ex Malter "The Coinage of Ancient Egypt," Auction II, 23-24 Feb 1978, Lot 16. CPE places this as possibly a later output of the Memphis mint.

- Broucheion