![Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse); Athena (reverse)](https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.994/1916.994_web.jpg)
Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse); Athena (reverse)
-306
- Medium
- silver
- Dimensions
- Overall: 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.)
- Genre
- Coins
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
Egypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), reign of Ptolemy I (303–282 BCE), minted at Alexandria
About
Much like his former commander Alexander III (the Great) showed connections to Herakles and Zeus, Ptolemy I Soter (the Savior) used coins to validate his succession to power. Thus, in place of Herakles with lion-skin, this coin shows Alexander in an elephant headdress, referring to their shared Eastern triumphs. On the reverse is Athena Promachos, striding forward with shield and spear. Before her are a helmet and an eagle, and behind her the inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, “of Alexander.”