Alexander III, 336-323 BC, Posthumous Tetradrachm

Alexander III, Tetradrachm, AR, struck under Seleukos I, minted circa 320-300 BC in Antigoneia or Seleucia Pieria. Weight: 16.64g, Diameter: 25mm. The obverse features a finely detailed head of Herakles facing right, adorned with a lion's skin headdress, with its paws intricately tied beneath his chin. The reverse bears the inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, depicting Zeus seated on a throne to the left, holding an eagle in his right hand and a scepter in his left. The strike is well-centered and the surfaces display typical high-quality silver. Referenced as Price 3192. This coin is significant as it represents the spread of Alexander the Great's influence posthumously. Struck under the rule of Seleukos I, one of Alexander's generals and a key figure in the Diadochi period, this tetradrachm highlights the transition from Alexander's empire to the Hellenistic kingdoms. The depiction of Herakles symbolizes divine favor and military prowess, reflecting the continuity of Alexander's iconography and legacy in the subsequent Seleucid Empire.