Website on Alexander's coins

[jona]

Dear friends,Perhaps this website is interesting:http://rg.ancients.info/alexander/Jona

[marcus]

Thanks for this, Jona. Excellent site (even though still in development).I'm not good on numismatics, although it's an area I want to learn to a reasonable degree of proficiency. This might be of help as a starter!All the bestMarcus

[beausefaless]

JonaMy favorite portrait of Alexander is Leipzig, Archaeologisches Institute statue presented by John J. Popovic on a web page link, which shows his muscular built along side of his battle fatigue.Herakles was always depicted as a bearded mature man... I completely disagree with Martin Price and Reid Goldsborough who believed that Alexander didn't engage in this practice with his own portrait on his imperial coinage because the face of a coin was a place for the gods.In the later part of Alexanders life he portrayed himself as a god and what better way than to replace Herakles with himself for he out-did this deity in every way, shape and form that anyone could imagine. Alexander was the first to do many things so why not portray himself on his own coinage.I sent you some pictures of a lifetime Alexander (tetradrachm) from my personal collection. I realize I'm not part of your inner circle and if what I did bothers you just let me know and it won't happen again. Adios

[marcus]

So, Andrew, what I haven't quite grasped is how one can tell if a coin is a lifetime issue or not - according to that website, details such as the positions of Zeus' legs aren't sufficient.So, for example, I have a tetradrachm which purports to be lifetime; I was then led to believe it wasn't; and now I'm completely confused.All the bestMarcus

[beausefaless]

Greetings Jona,Please forgive my provocative apologizes.A private collection, in Switzerland, there's a beautiful statuette of young beardless Herakles holding a club with his right hand and holds out three apples of the Hesperides in his left hand. The lion skin draped around his left arm, with the head and the knotted forelegs hanging down from the shoulder.The youthful head of Herakles wearing the skin of the nemean lion appears on most of the smaller gold (obverse quarter staters) denominations, reverse, bow above club and wine cup above club.(Macedonia, mint of Pella, ca 340-328 BCE or ca 336-328 BCE.Most numismatic experts on silver tetradrachm Alexanders (ca 325 BCE-223 BCE) agree, although slight variations occur, these (youthful beardless head of Herakles with the nemean lion skin) were the representations placed on the silver tetradrachms struck at Alexander's network of mints. All the best, Andrew

[beausefaless]

Greetings Marcus,

I will contact you in the very near future with info on the dating of Alexanders. I believe your tetradrachm could be a lifetime issue if not there's a very good probability it's ca 319 BCE. Would it be possible to send me a photo?(digital camera or scanner)

There's a very rare Alexander tetradrachm, Egypt, mint of Alexandria, 325 BCE, with Zeus' right foot drawn back on the footstool. At left, roses on stems. If you ever come across this coin, jump on it or contact me ASAP. Thanks

All the best

Andrew

[marcus]

Thanks, Andrew. I don't have a digital camera yet, but I'll see if I can borrow one. It would be helpful to know!(I also have a drachm about which I have the same question, so when I manage to get a photo of the tet I'll do that one, too!).All the bestMarcus