Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 316-312 BCE, Ptolemy I

Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 316-312 BCE, Ptolemy I; Obverse: Head of Alexander facing right and wearing an elephant skin and aegis. ΔΟ to the right of the elephant ear.
Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 316-312 BCE, Ptolemy I; Reverse: Athena Alkidemos.
Unidentified Artist, Alexandrian聽

Type/Object Name: Ob: Head of Alexander facing right and wearing an elephant skin and aegis. 螖螣 to the right of the elephant ear. | Re: Athena Alkidemos, standing, facing right, holding a spear at the ready in her right hand and a shield, boss up in her left. The goddess is wearing a chiton and drape. An eagle stands to her right, its wings folded. Inscription: 螒螞螘螢螒螡螖巍螘螜螣N (ALEXANDREION = 鈥渙f the people of Alexandria鈥).聽

Dates: late 4th century BCE

Medium: Silver, Tetradrachm

Dimensions: Diameter聽26.8 mm, Weight 16.2632 g

Credit Line: Courtesy of John Nebel

Notes: Egypt and the Coming of Rome

This coin was minted by Alexander鈥檚 half-brother, Ptolemy, when he was ruler of Egypt (325-305 BCE). The obverse shows Alexander wearing an elephant skin. This is held to be the first 鈥渢rue portrait鈥 of Alexander, with features that are distinct and recognizable in contrast to the earlier Heracles coins that are more generic. The elephant skin Alexander wears rather than Heracles鈥 lion skin is a reference to his conquests in the Indus River Valley 鈥 and thus to the vast extent of his empire. The reverse, with its strongly archaizing Athena, reaffirms the notion of conquest. The eagle, long the bird of Zeus, was beginning at this point to be used by the Ptolemies as their own family badge and thus makes visual reference both to the king of gods and the King of Egypt.

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: Zervos, Orestes H. 1974. Ph.D. Dissertation. The Alexander Mint of Egypt.聽Page 95 #20B (300 style 1). Ann Arbor: Xerox University Microfilms; Jenkins, G.K. 1960. An Early Ptolemaic Hoard from Phacous. In American Numismatic Society Museum Notes IX.聽Page 25 and Plate IV #3 (same dies). New York: American Numismatic Society.