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Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’. (Circa 324/323 BC)
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AR Tetradrachm
25 mm, 17.15 g
Babylon mint. Struck under Stamenes or Archon (Appointed satraps of Babylonia from 328-323 BC)
Obverse: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress, paws tied beneath chin
Reverse: [Α]ΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Of Alexander), Zeus seated left on high-backed throne, left leg drawn back, his feet resting on a low footrest, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle standing right with closed wings, sickle (or perhaps Persian fly whisk) in left field, below throne, monogram above M.
Price 3622.
This coin was minted in or near the time (323 BC) and place (Babylon) of Alexander's (likely) assassination. Long assumed by numismatists to be a sickle, the symbol in left field on the reverse may actually be a Persian fly whisk (hat tip to Forum member N.igma, for bringing this information to light here: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=94765.msg713305#msg713305) highlighting Alexander's increased adoption of Persian royal regalia and practice in the years following the death of Darius III in 330 BC (much to the chagrin of his fellow Macedonians).
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