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Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander (obverse); Athena (reverse)
297–281 BC
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
A contemporary of Alexander the Great and one of his generals, Lysimachos used coins like this one to emphasize his connections to the fallen leader. The images of the goddesses Athena and Nike, or Victory, on the reverse, together with an inscription naming King Lysimachos, further legitimize his reign, first in Thrace and then in parts of Macedonia and Asia Minor.
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Details
- Title: Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander (obverse); Athena (reverse)
- Date Created: 297–281 BC
- Physical Dimensions: Diameter: 3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
- Provenance: (Charles T. Seltman)
- Type: Coins
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1917.984
- Medium: silver
- Inscriptions: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ | ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, ΑΡ, Λ within Π
- Fun Fact: Although Alexander the Great appears on this coin, the inscription on the reverse identifies its issuer as Lysimachos.
- Department: Greek and Roman Art
- Culture: Greek, Macedonian, minted at Lysimachia (Thrake), reign of Lysimachos
- Credit Line: Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
- Collection: GR - Greek
- Accession Number: 1917.984
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