Alexander III, Posthumous issue, 325-320 BC, Tetradrachm

Alexander III, Tetradrachm, Silver, Posthumous issue, minted in Pella or Amphipolis, 325-320 BC. Weight: 16.61 g; typical diameter: 25 mm. The obverse features a finely detailed bust of Herakles, depicted in a lion skin headdress, facing right. The reverse bears the inscription "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ" surrounding an enthroned Zeus holding an eagle in his right hand and a scepter in his left, with the mint mark below the throne. The strike is well-centered with a clear definition on both sides. Reference: Price 3107.

This tetradrachm, struck posthumously during the early Hellenistic period, serves as a testament to the enduring legacy and deification of Alexander the Great. As currency, it facilitated trade and reinforced the spread of Greek culture throughout his vast empire, which stretched from Greece to Egypt and into the heart of Asia. The use of Herakles' image on the obverse tied Alexander to divine heroism, while the reverse solidified his status as the sovereign ruler supported by the king of the gods, Zeus.