Kingdom: Macedon
Ruler: Alexander III "the Great" (Alexander III Magnus)
Reign: 336–323 BC
Issue: Early posthumous issue struck in the name of Alexander III shortly after his death.
Denomination: Silver Drachm
Metal: AR
Weight: 4.20 g
Diameter: 17.8 mm
Die axis: Approximately 12h
Mint: Not conclusively identified; stylistic and control-mark analysis suggests a probable mint in western Asia Minor (provisional attribution).
Date: Approximately late 4th century BC, early posthumous period (circa 323–310 BC).
NGC Ancients
Grade: Fine (F)
Surface: Brushed
Certification Number: 8560159-011
This coin has been authenticated and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC Ancients).
Head of Herakles right, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion.
The portrait follows the classical Alexandrine style, representing the mythical ancestor and divine protector of the Argead dynasty. The massive facial modelling, pronounced jawline and broad treatment of the lion skin are consistent with official early Hellenistic die engraving.
Zeus Aëtophoros seated left upon a throne.
He holds an eagle in his extended right hand and a long sceptre in his left.
To the right appears the vertical legend
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ
("Of Alexander").
Control marks visible in the left field appear to consist of:
Because of circulation wear, these control marks cannot yet be securely attributed to a specific mint without direct comparison with the standard reference corpus.
Price: pending final identification.
Müller: pending final identification.
SNG: pending final identification.
Probable Mint: Western Asia Minor (provisional).
Although Alexander III drachms constitute one of the principal international silver coinages of the Hellenistic world, the exact variety represented by this specimen cannot presently be assigned with certainty due to partially worn control marks.
Accordingly, the academically appropriate statement is:
Rarity classification: Indeterminate pending complete control-mark attribution.
Certified Fine by NGC Ancients.
Naturally worn from ancient circulation.
Most principal design elements remain clearly identifiable.
Silver-grey surfaces with evidence of historical mechanical cleaning, reflected in the NGC designation Brushed.
No evidence of modern tooling or aggressive restoration is apparent.
Following the death of Alexander III in Babylon in 323 BC, his empire was divided among the Diadochi. Nevertheless, silver coinage continued to be struck for decades in his name, preserving both the prestige of his authority and the trusted Attic weight standard. These drachms became one of the principal trade currencies of the Hellenistic world, circulating from the Balkans and Asia Minor to Egypt, Mesopotamia and Central Asia.
The obverse depicts Herakles, emphasizing the legendary ancestry of the Argead dynasty, while Zeus Aëtophoros on the reverse symbolizes supreme divine authority and royal legitimacy.