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Tetradrachm: Head of Young Herakles (obverse); Zeus (reverse)
336–323 BC
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
On this coin, the head of a youthful Herakles, wearing his lion-skin, appears on the obverse, with his father Zeus, king of the gods, seated on the reverse. For Alexander III (the Great), who claimed descent from the line of Herakles, coins like this one projected power. Thus, while their attributes (lion-skin, eagle, scepter) identify hero and god, the inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (of Alexander) identifies the leader.
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Details
- Title: Tetradrachm: Head of Young Herakles (obverse); Zeus (reverse)
- Date Created: 336–323 BC
- Physical Dimensions: Diameter: 2.6 cm (1 in.)
- Provenance: Mr. J. H. Wade, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh
- Type: Coins
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.981
- Medium: silver
- Inscriptions: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ
- Fun Fact: The Pegasos protome beside Zeus (on the reverse) indicates that this coin was minted at Amphipolis.
- Department: Greek and Roman Art
- Culture: Greek, Macedonian, minted at Amphipolis (Macedonia), reign of Alexander III [The Great]
- Credit Line: Gift of J. H. Wade
- Collection: GR - Greek
- Accession Number: 1916.981
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