This is not a 'great' coin, or a 'rare' coin, but on a number of occasions, on this page, collectors have shown coins with a variety of fauna. We have seen goats, octopi, turtles, donkeys, elephants and to name a few, but to my recollection, never a mouse, (let alone one on an 'Alexander 'The Great' coin). I recently purchased an Alexander III in a group of unattributed Greek bronzes, not knowing the mouse was there, so I shall share my surprise with you. Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander III 'the Great'. 336-323 B.C. AE unit (18.2mm., 5.86gm.) Uncertain Macedonian mint, Possible lifetime issue, ca.325-310 B.C. Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Rev: Bow in bowcase above B A in L & R fields, Club below and mouse in exergue. Price 377; SNG Alpha Bank 791-3
I see your mouse and raise you a rat! Ti. Quinctius. (112 - 111 B.C.) AR Denarius O: Laureate bust of Hercules left, seen from behind, with club over shoulder. R: Two horses galloping left, with a desultor riding the nearest one; •/H above, rat below, •D•S•S on tablet in exergue. Rome Mint 3.68g 20mm Crawford 297/1b; Sydenham 563; Quinctia 6
So what is the history/significance of the mouse? Seems a bit out-of-place on a coin with Alexander the Great and weapons of war.
Hence my surprise at not only finding a mouse, but finding it on a coin of such a well thought of 'General'. Apparently, Apollo is sometimes called Apollo Smitheus. It is thought that this refers to a connection between Apollo and mice, which makes sense since Apollo shoots plague arrows to punish disrespectful humans. I am afraid I do not have that answer, yet. Perhaps someone else does?
To borrow from @Jochen1 . . . " . . . In the Aeolian dialect 'smintha' means 'mouse'. So Apollo Smintheus means 'Apollo the mice-god'. The mouse in ancient times was a symbol of prophetic power because it was thought mice were inspired by the exhaling coming out of the ground. That would match the prophetic power of Apollo."
At one time I owned this coin Alexander III Ar Drachm 323-317 BC Lampsakos Obv beardless head of Herakles wearing Lions skin headdress. Rv Zeus seated left In left field a mouse. Price 1424 . 18 mm THIS IS NO LONGER MY COIN I purchased this coin from a local dealer back in the late 90's It was part of a hoard of coins and thus was in a little bag with a group of similar drachms. I bought it because I liked the mouse. The date 323-317 BC is the date suggested by Price. I now believe that that is being somewhat optimistic and the date is most likely sometime later.