Ancient Greek Coins

(Alexander III of Macedon), King of Macedonia, 336-323 BC

I have many different Coins of Alexander The Great available for leasing to Movie and Television Production Companies. They are some of the world's finest examples of ancient Greek medalic art.

The obverse shows Alexander personified in the Greek hero Herakles (Hercules of Roman Mythology) wearing a lion skin. The lions' open mouth is worn like a cap. On the reverse Zeus is seated on his throne holding his eagle and a spear in his left hand. Behind him is the word Alexander in Greek lettering. Underneath the eagle and the chair are officina and mint marks.

Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon (Alexander the Great) was born in Pella, Macedonia (now in Greece) in late July, 356 BC on the very same day the famous Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed by fire. His parents were Olympias and Philip II and according to some legends and oracles, Alexander had divine origins: Zeus and Olympias. During his youth Alexander was taught by the philosopher Aristotle.

Alexander was fearless and strong even as a young boy. At the age of twelve he tamed the beautiful and spirited Bucephalus ("ox-head" in Greek), a horse that no one else could ride. His father Philip II was so proud of Alexander's horsemanship that he said: "O my son, seek out a kingdom worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee."

He was one of the greatest generals the world has ever known and his short reign (336 to 323 BC) made a decisive difference in European and Asian history. He carried Macedonian arms to India and laid the foundations for the Hellenistic World and became a legendary hero in the process.

Alexander inherited, from his father King Philip II, the best military formation of the time; the Macedonian Phalanx. They were armed with sarisses, the fearful five-and-a-half meter long lances.

Alexander came to the Macedonian throne in 336 BC and after consolidating his political power he set off on his celebrated Persian expedition in the spring of 334 BC.

Then in the winter of 334 to 333 BC he conquered western Asia Minor. In July 332 BC he stormed the island city of Tyre and achieved his greatest military victory.

He consolidated his hold on the Mediterranean coast and then, in 332 to 331 BC, he subdued Egypt. He returned to Tyre in the Spring of 331 BC and then advanced across Mesopotamia and occupied the city and province of Babylon.

In the spring of 330 BC he marched north into Media and occupied its capital. In the following summer he set out on his campaign eastward to central Asia. The resistance of the Scythians and others was strong and they were not overcome till 328 BC.

In the summer of 327 BC Alexander set out to invade India finally crossing the Indus in in the spring of 326. After that he took some time consolidating his empire, trying to settle the conflicts between the Macedonians and the Persians.

Alexander died in Babylon (now in Iraq) on June 13, 323 BC. He died 10 days after becoming ill during a banquet and prolonged drinking bout. His body was sent to Egypt and was eventually put into a golden coffin in Alexandria.

The obverse shows Alexander personified in the Greek hero Herakles (Hercules of Roman Mythology) wearing a lion skin. The lions' open mouth is worn like a cap. On the reverse Zeus is seated on his throne holding his eagle and a spear in his left hand. Behind him is the word Alexander in Greek lettering. Underneath the eagle and the chair are officina and mint marks.