There are two firsts here: 1). the Greeks were the first civilization to use images of real people on their coins 2) The first was Alexander the Great. Take a look at this Silver tetradrachm (17.11 gm).c. 300-295 B.C. Alexander got to thinking he was a God and had the sculptor engrave his likeness on the obverse die wearing Hercules headdress. The reverse has Zeus seated left on a cushioned throne, holding eagle on extended right hand and resting left on lotus scepter, ST?O monogram in left field, double-bladed axe under throne. http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/gemini/003/image00097.jpg Clinker
Clinker,that is a very nice coin design.Did you know that the eagle later became an ancient Egyptian coinage symbol under the Ptolemaic Dynasty? The double-bladed axe,like the fasces, is also a very ancient symbol.It appeared most recently on the coins of Vichy France. Aidan.
Aiden.... maybe you can do a future article on coinage and the eagle...including U.S.A., Mexico, Germany, Austria and about 80 others....LOL... Clinker
Clinker,I will leave that for you.I will be concentrating on writing articles on British Commonwealth numismatic subjects. Aidan.
To Aiden Work Aiden...if you write more articles and post yjem elsewhere, let us know so we can visit that website and read your article.... Clinker
