SILVER DECADRACHM 326 BCE
While reading Paul Cartledge's Alexander the Great I came across what is thought to be the only image of Alexander to survive from his own life time which comes from a silver decarachm of Alexander from around 324 BCE. This coin tells us a lot about Alexander as can be seen from my following analysis of it:
While reading Paul Cartledge's Alexander the Great I came across what is thought to be the only image of Alexander to survive from his own life time which comes from a silver decarachm of Alexander from around 324 BCE. This coin tells us a lot about Alexander as can be seen from my following analysis of it:
The main idea here is that as it was commissioned to celebrate victory over, presumably, Porus at the Battle of the River Hydaspes in 326 BCE is that it celebrates Alexander. Obviously there would have been an agenda when making it to make Alexander look as great as possible yet the two sides are very telling. One side (left) depicts Alexander on horseback fghting an Indian - perhaps Porus - on elephant back which demonstrates his bravery and battle prowess. The other side is even more significant as it shows Alexander being crowned by Nike - goddess of victory - and holding Zeus' lightning bolt which suggests Alexander is boldly claiming his own divinity. He also dresses in a mix of Macedonian, Greek and Persian style which possibly shows how much he wanted to unite people under him.
ALEXANDER'S LEGACY THROUGH COINS
This coin interested me in the currency of Alexander and after doing some more research I discovered that Alexander seemed to be the creator of modern day currency in a sense. According to this page of the BBC History website this coin was issued by an old general of Alexander's, Lysimachus after Alexander had died and his kingdom and fragmented between the Diadochi with Lysimahcus ruling Thrace and this coin was in circulation.
ALEXANDER'S LEGACY THROUGH COINS
This coin interested me in the currency of Alexander and after doing some more research I discovered that Alexander seemed to be the creator of modern day currency in a sense. According to this page of the BBC History website this coin was issued by an old general of Alexander's, Lysimachus after Alexander had died and his kingdom and fragmented between the Diadochi with Lysimahcus ruling Thrace and this coin was in circulation.
This coin is interesting as it was after Alexander's death yet through the rams horns he is depicted with (those of Zeus' God Ammon) still deifies Alexander. Furthermore it is just Alexander's portrait on one side of the coin because Lysimachus wanted to legitimise his place as his successor, on the other side Athena is sitting - we can tell it's her by the Aegis (shield). The Greek writing says 'King Lysimachus'.
The most interesting thing about this coin is the extent to which it is similar to a modern day, British 50p coin.
The most interesting thing about this coin is the extent to which it is similar to a modern day, British 50p coin.
As you can see similarly to the Ancient Coin one side of this 50 pence has a portrait of the ruler in question and the other shows a figure sitting down, arm outstretched with a shield however in this case it is not Athena but Britannia. Nevertheless the similarities are uncanny. This suggests that this style of coin was adopted, perhaps by leaders who admired Alexander and wanted to follow in his footsteps and demonstrates Alexander's ever present influence on the modern world today which suggests Alexander's legacy is incredibly long lasting and great.