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Home > Catalog > |Greek Coins| > |Hellenistic Monarchies| > |Alexander the Great| > GB27927 Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander III, the Great, 336 - 323 B.C.  Alexander the Great passed through Tarsos with his armies in 333 B.C. Darius' confidence increased, because Alexander spent so much time there, which he imputed to cowardice. In truth, Alexander had fallen seriously ill after bathing in the exceedingly cold river Cydnus. No physician would treat him, they thought his case so desperate, and his recovery unlikely. They feared the punishment for failure. Finally, Philip, the Acarnanian, relying on his own well-known friendship for Alexander, resolved to try. At this very time, Alexander received a letter, warning him that Philip had been bribed by Darius to kill him, with great sums of money, and a promise of his daughter in marriage. After Alexander read the letter, he put it under his pillow, without showing it to anyone. When Philip came in with the potion, Alexander drank it with great cheerfulness and assurance, at the same time giving Philip the letter to read. Alexander's looks were cheerful and open, to show his kindness to and confidence in his physician, while Philip was full of surprise and alarm at the accusation, appealing to the gods to witness his innocence, sometimes lifting up his hands to heaven, and then throwing himself down by the bedside, and beseeching Alexander to lay aside all fear, and follow his directions without apprehension. The medicine worked so strongly at first that at first Alexander lost his speech, and falling into a swoon, had scarce any sense or pulse left. However, after a short time, his health and strength returned, and he showed himself in public to the Macedonians, who had been in continual fear until they saw him again.GB27927. Bronze unit, Price 3061, Müller Alexander 175, Drama Hoard 102, SNG Cop 1047, SNG Alpha Bank -, SNG Munchen -, VF, Cilicia, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, weight 5.768g, maximum diameter 17.9mm, c. 323 - 317 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse caduceus left over club right above, AΛΕΞANΔPOY across center, quiver laying on bow over star below; SOLD  |