Ancient Greek – AR Drachm – Alexander the Great Bracelet

Denomination:  AR Drachm                                                 

Mint: Kolophon                                                                                 

Date: Circa 301-297 BC

Mount: Sterling Silver Bracelet with 14K coin bezel

Description: KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III. 301-297 BC. AR Drachm. Kolophon mint. Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress. Reverse: ALEXANDROU, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter. Head above crescent in left field, pentagram below throne.

History: Alexander, King of Macedonia, began ruling immediately after the death of his father, Philip II and brought the Greek Empire to its peak. Through his conquests, he minted these coins in many variations of type and style. Each bears the face of Herakles (Hercules) wearing a headdress of the Nemean Lion. This animal was fierce and virtually indestructible, so using his super-human strength and intelligence, Herakles decided to strangle the lion since he was unable to cut through its skin. After he killed the lion, he used its own razor-sharp claws to remove its hide, and forever after Herakles wore the lion’s skin for protection and as a symbol of his victory. Alexander wanted to be like Herakles, and was also known to wear a lion’s skin, invoking his strength and courage.  These coins continued to circulate hundreds of years after the death of Alexander the Great.

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