This article is designed to teach about the varieties of ancient Greek coins that are connected with Alexander the Great, including the coins of his lifetime. My name is Ilya Zlobin with eBay store, Authentic Ancient Greek and Roman Coins, and I will be your guide to a time over 2300 years ago. This article combines examples of ancient coins available in my store, along with a video where I talk more about them. The end result making it easy and fun to learn about and put together a collection of Alexander the Great coins.
The Flow of the Coins in the Video and in this GuideThis guide starts with coins of Philip II , the father of Alexander the Great, dealing with his Olympic games victory in horse racing. Alexander the Great started his career being a great general fighting side by side with Philip and leading his own flanks in the army. When Alexander inherited the kingdom from his father at his passing, he had a trained veteran army that he learned to command through first-hand experience. It is this army that Alexander the Great used to take over the then-known world in a short time period of his reign of 13 years, dying at 33 years old in ancient Babylon. Moving on to the silver coins of Alexander the Great. Alexander had the large denomination ‘ tetradrachm‘ silver coin. This type of coin was the standard of Greek coinage throughout the ancient Greek world. The coins with Alexander’s name continued to be struck for hundreds of years after Alexander’s passing. There are examples here of his lifetime and beyond and how to tell the difference. Even though I did not have a physical example of a gold coin of Alexander’s, there is a photo of his coin in the video. Next there are the bronze coins of Alexander the Great, with coins starting from the most common to the scarcest. And last we move on to a coins struck circa 222-235 A.D. almost 500 years after Alexander with is portrait of Macedonia Koinon.
Types of Ancient Coins Illustrated with Photographs of Examples and Descriptions from my eBay store
The book that is the standard reference regarding coins of Alexander the Great is called “The Coinage In the name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus” by Martin Jessop Price. The book is shown in the video and below. Scroll on to see the many amazing pictures and descriptions, basically covering all types of Alexander the Great, except a few rare, seldom-seen ones. The pictures of the coins are clickable and you will be able to see the types in my store, if available. This is a great collection of Alexander the Great coin that can give you a great hands-on experience by watching the video and reading this guide. Enjoy!
Philip II Alexander the Great Dad OLYMPIC GAMES Ancient Greek Coin Horse i28299
Greek King Philip II of Macedon 359-336 B.C. Bronze 15mm (6.55 grams) Struck 359-336 B.C. in the Kingdom of Macedonia Commemorating his Olympic Games Victory Head of Apollo right, hair bound with tainia. Nude athlete on horse prancing right, ΦIΛIΠΠΟΥ above.
* Numismatic Note: Authentic ancient Greek coin of King Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. Intriguing coin referring to his Olympic victory. History and Meaning of the Coin During the times of ancient Greeks, horse racing was one of the events various Greek city-states and kingdoms would have intense competition with each other, as it was of great prestige to participate. Before the time of Philip II, the kingdom of Macedonia was considered barbarian and not Greek. Philip II was the first king of Macedon that was accepted for participation in the event, which was a great honor all in itself. It was an even greater honor that Philip’s horses would go on to win two horse-racing events. In 356 B.C., he won the single horse event and then in 348 B.C. chariot pulled by two horses event. As a way to proudly announce, or what some would say propagandize these honors, Philip II placed a reference to these great victories on his coins struck in all three metals of bronze, silver and gold. The ancient historian, Plutarch, wrote “[Philip of Macedon] … had victories of his chariots at Olympia stamped on his coins.”
Philip II Alexander the Great Dad OLYMPIC GAMES Ancient Greek Coin Horse i55365
Greek King Philip II of Macedon 359-336 B.C. Father of Alexander III the Great Bronze 15mm (6.39 grams) Struck circa 356-336 B.C. in the Kingdom of Macedonia Commemorating his Olympic Games Victory Head of Apollo right, hair bound with tainia. Youth on horse prancing left, ΦIΛIΠΠΟΥ above.
PHILIP II Alexander the Great Dad OLYMPIC GAMES Silver Greek Coin i31177
Greek King Philip II of Macedon 359-336 B.C. Silver Hemidrachm 14mm (2.43 grams) Struck 359-336 B.C. in the Kingdom of Macedonia Commemorating his Olympic Games Victory Head of Apollo right, hair bound with tainia. Nude athlete on horse prancing right, ΦIΛIΠΠΟΥ above.
ALEXANDER III The GREAT 325BC Silver Tetradrachm Ancient Greek Coin ZEUS i55138
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm 26mm (17.07 grams) Pella mint, circa 325-315 B.C. Reference: Price 214; (*Note: obverse design like that of Price 3019) Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; Θ below throne.* Numismatic Note: The difference between the coins of the Tarsos mint and Pella is that there is a rudder in field to left in addition to the Θ below the throne. However, in this case, what I find striking is that the obverse head is like that of Price 3019 of Tarsos. This leads me to the conclusion of the usage of the dies from Tarsos at the mint of Pella, at least for the obverse design. The portrait type has more of the neck visible as opposed to just the head. Interesting lifetime or early posthumous type.
Greek Coin of Kingdom of ThraceLysimachos – King: 323-281 B.C. – Silver Tetradrachm 30mm (16.39 grams) Struck circa 288-281 B.C. Diademed head right of the deified Alexander the Great, wearing the horn of Ammon. Athena enthroned left, holding Nike; M in field to left.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT Pella Antigonos II Tetradrachm Silver Greek Coin i46302
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Struck under Antigonos II Gonatas: Macedonian King: 277-239 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm 27mm (16.80 grams) Pella mint, circa: 275-271 B.C. Reference: Price 621; Müller 230; SNG Copenhagen 713; Mathisen, Administrative VI.6, dies A19/P44 Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; Macedonian helmet in field to left; OK monogram below throne.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 120BC OdessosThrace Tetradrachm Silver Greek Coin i44007
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm 32mm (15.90 grams) Odessos mint, struck circa: 120-90 B.C. Reference: Price 1181; Callataÿ group 1, (D9/R9); Topalov, Odesos 69. Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; ΘΕ in field to left; monogram below throne.
ALEXANDER the GREAT 90BC Silver Greek Tetradrachm coin of PELLA Macedon i46268
Greek city of Pella in Macedonia Silver Tetradrachm 27mm (16.70 grams) Struck circa 90-75 B.C. Reference: Sear 1439; Price (Coins of the Macedonians) pl. XVI, 84 Head of Alexander the Great right, with horn of Ammon and flowing hair; MAKEΔΟΝΩΝ beneath, B (reversed) behind. AESILLAS / Q. above club between money-chest and quaestor’s chair; all within olive-wreath.
Gold Stater Coin of Alexander the Great
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). Gold stater (19mm, 8.55 gm, 1h). Late lifetime / early posthumous issue of Miletus, ca. 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent, hair in parallel corkscrew curls / AΛEΞANΔP[OY], Nike standing left, holding wreath in right hand and stylis in left arm; monogram in left field, labrys below right wing. Price 2114. ADM I Series VII, 175a.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 325BC LIFETIME ISSUE Ancient Silver Greek Coin i56034
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. LIFETIME ISSUE Silver Drachm 16mm (4.13 grams) Miletos mint, struck under Philoxenos, circa 325-323 B.C. Reference: Price 2088; ADM I series I, 32-53; SNG München 581-3; SNG Alpha Bank 627; SNG Saroglos -. Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; thunderbolt in field to left; ΔH monogram below throne.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 325BC LIFETIME ISSUE Ancient Silver Greek Coin i56035
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. LIFETIME ISSUE Silver Drachm 17mm (4.16 grams) Abydos mint. Struck under Kalas or Demarchos, circa 325-323 B.C. Reference: Price 1505; ADM II Series II. Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; forepart of Pegasus in field to left; monogram below throne.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 325BC LIFETIME ISSUE Ancient Silver Greek Coin i54102
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. LIFETIME ISSUE Silver Drachm 16mm (4.21 grams) Abydos mint. Struck circa 325-323 B.C. Struck under Kalas or Demarchos Reference: Price 1503; ADM II Series I Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; Hermes standing left, holding kerykeion (caduceus) in field to left; HI monogram below throne.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 325BC LIFETIME ISSUE Ancient Silver Greek Coin i56032
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. LIFETIME ISSUE Silver Drachm 15mm (4.18 grams) Miletos mint, 325-323 B.C. Reference: Price 2090; SNG Cop-895 Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; ΔH monogram in field to left.
PHILIP III Macedonian Silver Greek Coin w ALEXANDER the GREAT Face 323BC i37252
King of Macedonian KingdomPhilip III, Arrhidaeus – King of Macedonia: 323-317 B.C. Coin struck in Philip’s name, but in style of coins of Alexander III the Great, 356-323 B.C. King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Silver Drachm 18mm (4.09 grams) Magnesia mint: 323-319 B.C. Reference: Price P56; SNG München 946 Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; AI monogram in field to left.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT > Mylasa Caria < Hercules Zeus Silver Greek Coin i55974
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Silver Drachm 17mm (3.92 grams) Mint of Mylasa in Caria, struck circa 300-280 B.C. Reference: Price 2487 Head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. AΛEΞANΔΡOY, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and scepter; monogram within Ω in field to left.
Alexander III the Great 336BC Ancient Greek Coin Hercules Bow Club i30226
Alexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 16mm (4.22 grams) Struck under Alexander the Great 336-323 B.C. Reference: Sear 6739 var. Head of Alexander III the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. Hercules’ weapons, bow in bow-case and club, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ in between.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT as HERCULES 325BC Macedonia Ancient Greek Coin i55812
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Bronze 18mm (5.50 grams) Uncertain mint in Macedonia, struck circa 325-310 B.C. Struck under Antipater, Polyperchon, or Kassander Reference: Sear 6739 var.; Price 376; SNG Alpha Bank 782 Head of Alexander III the Great as Hercules right, wearing the lion-skin headdress. Bow in bow-case and club (weapons of Hercules), BA in between; thunderbolt below.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 336BC Miletos Ionia Shield Helmet Greek Coin i50851
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 1/2 Unit 17mm (4.74 grams) Struck at possibly Miletos mint, circa 336-323 B.C. Reference: Price 2064. Macedonian shield with gorgoneion at center. B – A on either side of crested Macedonian helmet, double axe to left; K to right.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 325BC Shield of Macedonia Helmet Greek Coin i55489
Greek Coin of Macedonian Kingdom Alexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 1/2 Unit 15mm (4.64 grams) Uncertain mint in Macedon. Struck circa 325-310 B.C. Reference: Price 416 Macedonian shield; around, five double crescents with five pellets between each; in centre, thunderbolt. B – A on either side of crested Macedonian helmet, thunderbolt below.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 336BC Hercules Eagle Authentic Ancient Greek Coin i53190
Greek Coin of Alexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 15mm (4.53 grams) Struck under Alexander the Great 336-323 B.C. Reference: Sear 6743 Alexander III the Great as young Hercules right, clad in lion-skin. ΑΛΕΞΑΝ-ΔΡΟΥ, Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, looking back; leaf in upper field to left.
Alexander III The Great 336BC Ancient Greek Coin APOLLO Healer HORSE i32140
Alexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 15mm (3.71 grams) Struck under Alexander the Great 336-323 B.C. Reference: Sear 6744; Forrer/Weber 2150 Head of Apollo right, hair bound with tainia. Horse prancing right; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ above.
RARE Alexander III the GREAT Hercules Shield Coin 336BC Greek Coin i56047
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Bronze 15mm (4.23 grams) Struck circa 336-323 B.C. Reference: Price 2806-2807; SNG Alpha Bank 849 Macedonian shield with head of Hercules 3/4 facing right in center. Crested helmet; grain-ear below, BA across fields.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 336BC Super Rare Shield Helmet Ancient Greek Coin i38104
Alexander III the Great – King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C. Bronze 16mm (3.87 grams) Struck circa 336-323 B.C. Reference: Price 2808 (obverse), Price 2806 (reverse) Macedonian shield with head of Alexander the Great as Hercules right in center. Crested helmet; grain-ear below, BA across fields.
PHILIP III Alexander III the Great Brother 319BC Shield Helmet Greek Coin i50866
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomPhilip III, Arrhidaeus – King of Macedonia: 323-317 B.C. Bronze 1/2 Unit 15mm (3.51 grams) Sardes mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319/8 B.C. Reference: Price 2614 var. (caduceus right, rose on left); Klein 130 var. Macedonian shield, kerykeion on boss. Macedonian helmet; B A across upper field, rose to lower right, kerykeion to lower left, TI below.* Numismatic Note: Very rare coin.
Alexander the Great under Ptolemy I Soter 305BC Ancient Greek Coin Eagle i36668
Greek King Ptolemy I, Soter – 305-283 B.C. of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt – Bronze 23mm (9.87 grams) Struck in Alexandria in Egypt 305-283 B.C. Reference: Sear 7765; B.M.C. 6.21,66 Head of Alexander the Great right wearing an elephant scalp, symbol of his conquest of India. ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT 222AD Macedonia Koinon Ancient / Greek Roman Coin i55817
Alexander III the Great: Macedonian Greek King: 336-323 B.C. Pseudo-Autonomous Issue under the Romans Bronze 24mm (9.72 grams) from the Koinon of Macedonia in Thrace Struck circa time of emperor Severus Alexander, 222-235 A.D. AΛЄΞANΔPOV, Head of Alexander the Great right with loose, flowing hair. KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN NЄΩ, Alexander the Great on his legendary horse, Bucephalus, galloping right with cape flowing behind him and raising right hand in which he holds a spear.* Numismatic Note: Amazing coin being issued over 500 years after the death of Alexander the Great, featuring his portrait. Alexander the Great was and still is a great hero of antiquity showing the amazing effect one man can have on history in just short while of just 13 years! Macedonia was a province under the control of the Romans, which was created out of the kingdom of Macedonia which Alexander the Great was king of. Interesting to note that this being a pseudo-autonomous issue featuring Alexander the Great instead of the Roman emperor of the time.
ALEXANDER the GREAT on BUCEPHALUS Horse Macedonia Koinon Greek Roman Coin i55457
Alexander III the Great: Macedonian Greek King: 336-323 B.C. Pseudo-Autonomous Issue under the Romans Bronze 26mm (11.14 grams) from the Koinon of Macedonia in Thrace Struck circa time of Severus Alexander, circa 222-235 A.D. Reference: AMNG 565 var. AΛЄΞANΔPOV, Head of Alexander the Great right with loose, flowing hair. KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN NЄΩ, Alexander the Great on his legendary horse, Bucephalus, galloping right with cape flowing behind him and raising right hand in which he holds a spear.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT Macedonia Koinon Ancient Greek coin under ROMANS i55093
Greek Coin of Macedonian KingdomAlexander III the Great – King of Macedonia: 336-323 B.C. Bronze 25mm (11.25 grams) of Macedonia Koinon in Thrace under the Roman Emperor Gordian III, 238-244 A.D. AΛЄΞANΔPOV, Head of Alexander the Great right with loose, flowing hair. KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN B NЄΩ ◦ЄOC◦, Two hexastyle (6 column) temples viewed from the front.
ALEXANDER III the GREAT Olympic type Games Koinon Macedonia Ancient Coin i27404
Alexander III, the Great: Macedonian Greek King: 336-323 B.C. Roman Era, Olympic-Style Games Issue Bronze 27mm (13.00 grams) from the Koinon of Macedonia in Thrace under Roman Control Struck circa 222-235 A.D. under the reign of Roman Emperor Severus Alexander AΛЄΞANΔPOV, Head of Alexander the Great right as Hercules, wearing lion-skin headdress. KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN NЄΩKO B, Agonistic prize table with two urns atop, each containing a palm branch which was a symbol for victory; amphora (vase) below table; B above table.
Article by Ilya Zlobin, world-renowned expert numismatist, enthusiast, author and dealer in authentic ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Byzantine coins and beyond.
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