Description
This large silver ancient Greek tetradrachm dates back over 2300 years to the era of Alexander the Great, 19th Kingdom of Macedonia from 336 - 323 BCE. This is widely considered to be one of the most iconic and sought after of all ancient coins. The obverse features an image of Herakles (or Hercules as the Romans called him) wearing a headdress made of a lion skin. The reverse features an image of the supreme god Zeus, who was the father of Herakles. Zeus sits on his throne holding a scepter and eagle. Many variations of the image of Herakles exist, representing the type and skill of each die engraver.
Alexander's greatest legacy to numismatics was his practice of paying his soldiers in cash, which enabled the spread of Macedonian coinage and culture throughout the western world. The silver tetradrachm was the largest regularly circulating unit of currency in Alexander's empire, and represented a full week's salary for the average soldier.
