Object Description
A striking Ancient Greek silver tetradrachm, featuring to the obverse the depiction of Alexander the Great as young Herakles, portrayed in profile wearing the lion’s skin headdress. The face is particularly well detailed with deep-set eyes, a long nose, and a full mouth. The reverse displays the Greek god Zeus portrayed facing left and sitting regally on a throne. The deity is holding an eagle and a long sceptre. A ΜΥΡ monogram framed by a wreath is visible to the left, and MI under the throne. Beneath and to the right of Zeus’s throne are inscriptions BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOY, meaning ‘of King Alexander.’ Both sides of the tetradrachm are framed by a thin line of small dots. The coin was struck under Seleukos I Nikator by the Babylon Mint.
Date: Circa 311-305 BC