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The First Alexander III Tetradrachm to be Struck in Sidon during the Siege of Tyre
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Kings of Macedonia, Alexander III The Great, 336-323 BC, AR Tetradrachm - Sidon
Head of young Herakles right in lion-skin headdress, paws tied at neck. / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ Zeus left seated on a backless throne, eagle in right hand, scepter held in left hand, Phoenician date (letter Alaph) indicating Year 1 (333/2 BC) beneath throne, indistinct Phoenician letter Sadhe (being the initial of Sidon) in outer left field.
Price 3467a (same dies); Newell Sidon 8, dies I/α.; Le Rider pl. 4, 1 & 2. The first Alexander tetradrachm emission from Sidon mint 333/2 BC from the first Alexander dies used at the mint.
This is amongst the first Alexander coinage struck at Sidon and dated to Year 1 of his Asian reign, being the year in which he defeated the Persian King Darius at the battle of Issos, which was shortly followed by the surrender of Sidon. This coin is from the first Alexander dies to be used at Sidon and would have been struck during Alexander's siege of nearby Tyre probably as part of the funding for the siege effort.
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