Ionia, Chios mint, c. 210 - 190 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; reverse AΛEΞAN∆POY, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, throne with high back, eagle in extended right, long scepter vertical behind in left, monogram over sphinx seated left in lower left field, monogram under throne, Weight 16.860 g maximum diameter 29.6 mm Please share your Alexander the Great Coinage.
Cool coin ... => I have an example as well with a big ol' countermark punch on it (sadly, it punched the dude's nose clean off of his face!!)
I don't own a Tet, but I do have this Drachm: ALEXANDER III AR Drachm OBVERSE: Head of Herakles right in lionskin headdress REVERSE: ALEXANDROU, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre. Forepart of Pegasos left in left field, X on W monogram beneath throne Struck at Abydos 325-323 BC 4.2g, 17mm Price 1505
Other than the horrid centering, this one is unusual in that it has no minor devices or letters to identify the issue. It is barbarous/unofficial but good silver and 16.9g. I suspect it was made on the edges of civilization rather than by a counterfeiter intending to deceive.
Neat coins. He struck me as quite the talented leader. News was a couple weeks ago that they may have found his burial site, have not heard updates on that. Here is an interesting anecdote when he went to visit a philosopher who was not impressed: "According to legend, Alexander the Great came to visit the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope. Alexander wanted to fulfill a wish for Diogenes and asked him what he desired.[5] According to the version recounted by Diogenes Laërtius, Diogenes replied "Stand out of my light."[6] Plutarch provides a longer version of the story: "Thereupon many statesmen and philosophers came to Alexander with their congratulations, and he expected that Diogenes of Sinope also, who was tarrying in Corinth, would do likewise. But since that philosopher took not the slightest notice of Alexander, and continued to enjoy his leisure in the suburb Craneion, Alexander went in person to see him; and he found him lying in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. And when that monarch addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, "Yes," said Diogenes, "stand a little out of my sun."[7] It is said that Alexander was so struck by this, and admired so much the haughtiness and grandeur of the man who had nothing but scorn for him, that he said to his followers, who were laughing and jesting about the philosopher as they went away, "But truly, if I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.'"[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_and_Alexander
Alexander the Great, Ephesus drachm 336-323 BC Alexander in the guise of Herakles with lion skin headdress Zeus seated left on throne with eagle on outstretched hand. Symbol to left of Zeus. "Ephesus was an important Greek city thus it is no surprise that their coinage shows a more refined sense of artistry. Coins struck in Ephesus signal a higher level of sophistication." sell copy, not mine. Alexander The Great , Macedonia AE17 5.19 grams 336-323 BC Head of Herakles Bowcase and club
It is to be expected that coins would show idealized images and imagery. The best likeness of Alexander appears to be this: Greek biographer Plutarch (c. 45–120 AD) describes Alexander's appearance as: ¹ The outward appearance of Alexander is best represented by the statues of him which Lysippus made, and it was by this artist alone that Alexander himself thought it fit that he should be modelled. ² For those peculiarities which many of his successors and friends afterwards tried to imitate, namely, the poise of the neck, which was bent slightly to the left, and the melting glance of his eyes, this artist has accurately observed. ³ Apelles, however, in painting him as wielder of the thunder-bolt, did not reproduce his complexion, but made it too dark and swarthy. Whereas he was of a fair colour, as they say, and his fairness passed into ruddiness on his breast particularly, and in his face. 4Moreover, that a very pleasant odour exhaled from his skin and that there was a fragrance about his mouth and all his flesh, so that his garments were filled with it, this we have read in the Memoirs of Aristoxenus.[171] Greek historian Arrian (Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' c. 86–160) described Alexander as: [T]he strong, handsome commander with one eye dark as the night and one blue as the sky.[172][173] The semi-legendary Alexander Romance also suggests that Alexander suffered from heterochromia iridum: that one eye was dark and the other light.[174] British historian Peter Green provided a description of Alexander's appearance, based on his review of statues and some ancient documents: Physically, Alexander was not prepossessing. Even by Macedonian standards he was very short, though stocky and tough. His beard was scanty, and he stood out against his hirsute Macedonian barons by going clean-shaven. His neck was in some way twisted, so that he appeared to be gazing upward at an angle. His eyes (one blue, one brown) revealed a dewy, feminine quality. He had a high complexion and a harsh voice.[175] Ancient authors recorded that Alexander was so pleased with portraits of himself created by Lysippos that he forbade other sculptors from crafting his image.[176] Lysippos had often used the Contrapposto sculptural scheme to portray Alexander and other characters such as Apoxyomenos, Hermes and Eros.[177] Lysippos' sculpture, famous for its naturalism, as opposed to a stiffer, more static pose, is thought to be the most faithful depiction.[178] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great
Alexander III AR Tetradrachm. ‘Amphipolis’ mint. Struck under Kassander, circa 316-314 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; shield in left field, pellet-in-Π below throne. Price 136; Troxell, Studies, issue L8.
