323 B.C. Alexander the Great Ancient Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin, NGC Extremely Fine XF Condition

$615.00

An ancient silver tetradrachm coin from the Macedonian Kingdom of Greece, under Alexander III, popularly known as Alexander the Great. Struck between 323-290 B.C. This coin is slabbed and professionally graded by the third-party grading company ANACS to be in VF (Very Fine) condition, with a moderate wear, a strong, well-centered strike, and lightly porous surfaces.

The obverse side of the coin features the bust of Alexander himself, wearing a lion's skin helmet in the style of the legendary Hercules. The reverse side of the coin features Zeus, king of the Gods, seated at his throne with an eagle perched on his arm.

In 336 B.C., Alexander ascended to the throne of the small kingdom of Macedon in Greece. Less than a decade later, he had conquered half of the known world, building an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to the northwestern corner of India. Poised to invade the Arabian peninsula, Alexander was struck down by a sudden illness (possibly poisoned) and died at the age of 32. His empire did not outlive him - after Alexander's death, his former generals grappled for power, splitting the empire into many smaller kingdoms.

While Alexander died in 323 B.C., the design used on coins struck during his lifetime continued to be used on coins throughout his former empire for centuries to come. The Alexandrian silver drachm and tetradrachm was a powerful symbol of legitimacy, and Alexander's successors sought to associate themselves with his reign by copying his coins. The Alexandrian drachm features a portrait of the god Hercules, helmed in the skin of the Nemean lion - the portrait was designed to incorporate Alexander's own facial features, elevating him to semi-divine status. The reverse of the coin features Zeus, the king of the gods, seated on his throne at Mt. Olympus. An eagle, the animal Zeus used as his personal messenger, is perched on his arm - perhaps listening to his latest instructions.

This listing is for the exact coin pictured. Free shipping via USPS First Class - arrives in 2-5 business days.

If you have any questions about the coin (or about coin collecting in general), please send me a message and I'll be happy to respond.

Category: Ancient Greek Coins