155 - Tetradrachm of Alexander III "the Great" (356–323 B.C.) Macedonian Empire.

Tetradrachm of Alexander III "the Great" (356–323 B.C.) Macedonian Empire. Minted posthumously around 315–295 B.C. in Amphipolis (Macedonia) (present-day Central Macedonia, Greece) Silver. Weight: 16.6 grams. Measurements: 27.5 mm in diameter. Provenance: Family legacy of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection formed from the 1950s by successive generations of the family, through acquisitions in European galleries and auction houses. On the obverse, the head of Heracles facing right, wearing the pelt of the mythological Nemean lion tied around his neck. On the reverse, Zeus seated on his throne facing left, holding an eagle in his raised right hand and a long scepter in his left. Mint mark: ? (letter lambda) and a torch on the left side of the coin. Monogram beneath the throne. Reverse inscription in a vertical line to the right: ??E?AN?POY (ALEXANDER) References: Price 447; Müller Alexander 37. On the coins of the Macedonian kings, the image of the head of a young Heracles/Hercules had a long tradition. It alludes to the claim that the Macedonian royal house was descended from Temenos, a powerful son of Heracles. During Alexander’s reign, the myth of Heracles became closely associated with the figure of the young king. Alexander was fond of emulating the heroic deeds of the demigod. It is possible—though very difficult to prove—that some of the heads of Heracles appearing on coins from his era bear the physical features of the king himself. In short, Alexander was being chosen as the new Heracles/Hercules.