Kings of Macedon, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, in the Name and Types of Alexander III ‘the Great’, AR Drachm, Kolophon Mint, Circa 310-301

$45.00

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SKU: G7.4 Categories: ,

Description

Greek, Kings of Macedon, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, in the Name and Types of Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC, AR Drachm (silver, 4.07g, 16.2mm), Kolophon Mint,Ā  Circa 310-301
Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress
Rev: AĪ›EĪžANĪ”POY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, N
Ref: Price 1797 Rarity/Choice: Common, Fine (corroded and disintegrated metal with a rough surface)
Note: This drachm was minted in Kolophon, a Greek city located in modern-day Turkey. Following Alexander’s conquests and subsequent death in 323 BC, his vast empire was divided among his generals, leading to a period of political fragmentation known as the Wars of the Diadochi. Despite Alexander’s death, his image continued to be used on coins as a symbol of authority and legitimacy. This drachm features a depiction of Herakles, identified by his lion skin headdress, on the obverse side. Herakles was a mythological figure revered for his strength and heroism, and his association with Alexander served to reinforce the king’s divine status. During this period of transition and instability after Alexander’s death, coins continued to be minted with his image as a means of asserting political authority and maintaining economic stability. The use of Alexander’s image on coins reinforced the continuity of his rule and provided a sense of stability in the midst of power struggles among his successors. These coins were crucial for facilitating trade and commerce, as well as for paying soldiers and officials across the vast territories of Alexander’s former empire.
This drachm from Kolophon serves as a testament to Alexander’s enduring legacy and the significant role that coinage played in the political and economic landscape of the Hellenistic world following his death.