Alexander the Great Coins

Alexander the Great Coins
Circa 325 BC
Middle East

Alexander the Great was incontestably one of the greatest generals of all time and one of the most powerful personalities of antiquity. Born in 356 BC, he was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and as a child was tutored by Aristotle.

Upon succeeding to the throne in 336, he quickly ruled all of Greece. As head of an allied Greek army he started east (334) on what was to be the greatest conquest of ancient times. Within four years of ascending to the throne, he defeated the Persians, Gaza had fallen, and he had entered Egypt where he founded Alexandria. He overthrew the Persian Empire and invaded northern India in 326. There, his men would go no further. Alexander himself led his men back through the desert reaching Susa in 324 BC. He died of fever a year later at age 33.

Because of the success of his conquests, the silver tetradrahm of Alexander was probably the most widely distributed coin of ancient times. The front shows the head of Hercules in a lion's scalp with the reverse having Zeus seated, holding an eagle and leaning on a scepter. Images shown below are larger than actual size.