Obverse: Head of Athena Wearing a
Crested Corinthian Helmet
Reverse: Nike Standing Facing Left
Holding a Wreath and a Stylis
Inscription on Reverse: ALEXANDROU
Translation: [Coin] of Alexander
The coin is beautifully mounted in a
18kt ring.
Alexander the Great, son of Philip II of
Macedon, is arguably the most important
historical figure in
the ancient world. Born on July 20th,
356 BC, he was an astute, if somewhat
headstrong student,
and was schooled by various famous
teachers, notably Aristotle. By the time
of his death at the age
of 32, he had personally supervised one
of the largest land-based military
expeditions of all time,
and had conquered the whole of the then
known world from Asia Minor across the
whole of Persia,
Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza,
Egypt, Mesopotamia, Bactria, parts of
India, Afghanistan
and Pakistan. A legend in his own
lifetime, he became known as much for
his excesses and cruelty
as his extraordinary military prowess
but was nonetheless a comparatively fair
and temperate man.
Perhaps due to his supposed descent from
Achilles and Herakles, he essentially
became deified
during the Hellenistic period. The
Greeks celebrated Alexander in art and
song, and his legend
continued under the Romans, who had a
fascination with military campaigns and
tactics.
