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

Back to the topic, what did he look like? We already know as we have one confirmed contemporary depiction of him, which one would assume would be somewhat idealized but must have been fairly accurate. It was found in the tomb of his father, Philip II:

 

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This resonates strongly with me. Research is half of the fun of the hobby, as far as I'm concerned. Every coin opens a fascinating world of history and numismatics.

 

I chose a bronze coin showing Alexander himself. It was struck in Alexandria under Ptolemy II. The second coin is a silver Tet with Zeus and a dolphin on reverse. Price 133.

 

That was a good write up! Here's my contribution to this thread:


Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander III
AR tetradrachm, 17.18g; Amphipolis mint, lifetime issue, struck under Antipater, c. 325-323 BC.
Obv.: Head of Herakles right, clad in Nemean Lion scalp headdress tied at neck.
Rev.: AΛEΞANΔΡOY Zeus enshrined left, throne without back and two leg struts,bright leg forward (archaic lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, TE monogram lower left, concave field


Kings of Macedon, temp. Kassander – Alexander (son of Kassander). Circa 310-294 BC.
AR Tetradrachm, 26mm, 16.8 g, 6h, Amphipolis mint, in the name and types of Alexander III.
Obv.:Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.
Rev.: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Λ above torch; ΔI monogram below throne.


Alexander III (the Great), Macedonia, BC 336 - 323
AE, 5.8g, 18mm; 9h; Sardes mint, Turkey
Obv.: Head of Herakles right wearing lionskin
Rev.: [Α]ΛΕΞΑΝ[ΔΡΟΥ] between bow and bow case above, clube below
In Ex.: V on EE monogram


Lysimachus, Kingdom of Thrace, BC 323-305
AE, 5g, 17mm; 5h; BC 317-305
Obv.: laureate head of Apollo right
Rev.: ΦΙΛΙ[ΠΠΟΥ]; horseman riding right; ΛΥ beneath horse left, lion forepart right (protome of lion)

 

Oh, and on the essay threshold - I was attempting to capture the history of various closed Air Force bases in my token collection. That turned out to be a major project that overwhelmed me quickly. I ought to get back to it...

 

Very Nice write-up! I take the same bent of mind, trying to do,justice by researching each of my coins (I've been in a bit of an acquisition mode lately, so I need to slow down and write a little more... or wrap up the research I have been doing and write the darn thing). I've yet to do a good write-up of any of my ancient coins (just the medievals so far), but here's my Alexander I'll eventually get to:


Kingdom of Macedon
Alexander III (the Great), r. 336-323 B.C. (c. 325-315 B.C.)
Pella Mint, AR Tetradrachm
27.72mm x 17.2 grams
Obv.: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Rev.: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding eagle and sceptre, ΣΙ in left field

 

Great write up @Curtisimo! But what about staters? This one is my best of all coins.

 

... *speechless*

 

fabulous coin , Ivan !
2-lifetime tets of Alexander , the Babylon is my favourite because he lived and died overthere.

 

Awesome post!! My Lysimachos tet., Lampsakos mint:



And an earlier drachm issued under Phillip III Arrhidaios which I think shows the characteristic wide-eyed look and prominent brow ridge of Alexander portraits:

 

What a beauty coin to dream to have it

 

Thanks

 

Thanks Ro

 

Excellent post

 

Here's Seleukos I Nicator (Victor ). SC 117.

 

Great coins everyone.

I'm kinda of surprised we haven't seen any Ptolemy tets or Cassander bronzes?

 

Oh, right! Happy to oblige


EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
AR tetradrachm, 27 mm, 17.0 gm (Attic standard)
Alexandreia mint, struck 313/12 BCE
Obv: Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; to right, eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt to right with ΔΙ below
Ref: Svoronos 33; Zervos series D, issue XIII; SNG Copenhagen 14; BMC 7


EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
Struck c. 300-285 BCE, Alexandreia mint
AR tetradrachm, 28 mm, 13.92 gm
Obv: diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck, tiny Δ behind ear
Rev: eagle standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram
Ref: Svoronos 252; SNG Copenhagen 69; Noeske 40

 

ask and ye shall get to see.. Kassander bronze, Alexanders cousin general and king of Macedonia O and congrats on this thread making the "featured" zone

 

LOVELY TIF !!!!

If I don't post this Tet (Ptolemy II with the portrait of P-I) that I purchased from A-Noob, I'll never hear the end of it LOL

 

Wow @TIF! That's what I call eye candy! I think my next major purchase will be one of these two types... so jealous

@Mikey Zee your tet is no slouch either. Awesome!

Thanks Greg and sweet bronze!

I was really excited to earn my second featured thread. Thank you to whomever nominated it