Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander III 'the Great'. Silver Decadrachm (41.34 g), 336-323 BC. Babylon, lifetime issue, ca. 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Reverse: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; below throne monogram, M below; in left field bee. Price 3618A; Mnemata 6. Extremely Rare. Original dark toning. NGC grade Choice XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5. Fine Style scratches. Value $30,000 - UP
Among the rarest and most desirable of all ancient Greek coins, the famed decadrachms of Alexander the Great were struck at Babylon from the bullion seized after the city's conquest from the Achaemenid Persians. The types follow the huge emissions of Alexander's tetradrachms, sporting the head of the mighty Herakles wearing his lion's skin on the obverse, and the father of the Olympian pantheon, Zeus, seated on the reverse. There has long been speculation that the portrait of Herakles features the likeness of Alexander himself, but there is no sure evidence that this is the case. There are only twenty or so Alexander decadrachms known to exist, and most of those were discovered in 1973 in what has become known as the 'Babylon Hoard'. The known examples suggest there was at least three separate emissions, and the paucity of remaining pieces suggest that the denomination may have served a ceremonial purpose - perhaps given as presentation pieces to high ranking officers or possibly even to soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the conquest of Persia. Alexander was known for giving largesse, and it is tempting to think that he may have taken a personal role in their distribution. Today these surviving decadrachms are a tangible example of one of the greatest treasures in ancient numismatics.
Ex Tareq Hani Collection. Officially exported by Archbshop Alexios, Greek Orthodox Church, December 8, 1967.