Civilization: Kingdom of Macedon
Ruler: Alexander III the Great
Mint: Miletos
Year: ca. 320 BC
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Chalkon
Diameter: 14.7mm
Weight: 2.28g
Reference: Price 2065

Obverse
Macedonian shield with gorgoneion on boss

Reverse
B - A. Macedonian helmet; to lower left, double-axe; to lower right, K

Alexander III, known as Alexander the Great, reigned from 336 to 323 BCE and is celebrated as one of history’s most successful military leaders and a key figure in spreading Hellenistic culture across a vast empire. Born in 356 BCE in Macedonia to King Philip II and Queen Olympias, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, who instilled in him a love for knowledge and ambition. He ascended the throne after Philip’s assassination and quickly consolidated power, quelling revolts in Greece before setting his sights on the Persian Empire.

In a series of rapid and strategic campaigns, Alexander defeated the Persian King Darius III, winning decisive battles at the Granicus River, Issus, and finally Gaugamela in 331 BCE. This victory marked the fall of the Persian Empire and the beginning of Alexander’s rule over vast territories stretching from Greece to Egypt and into Asia.

As he conquered, Alexander founded cities (many named Alexandria) that became centers of Greek culture and learning, blending Greek and local customs in a process known as Hellenization. However, his ambitious expansion did not end with Persia; he pressed into Central Asia and even India, where his troops, exhausted and longing for home, eventually persuaded him to turn back.

Alexander’s return to Babylon in 323 BCE marked the end of his campaigns. Shortly after, at age 32, he died under mysterious circumstances—possibly from fever, poisoning, or other illness. His untimely death left his empire without a clear successor, leading to its division among his generals, the Diadochi, and initiating the Hellenistic period. Alexander is remembered both for his visionary expansion of the Greek world and for inspiring a blend of cultures that influenced art, science, and philosophy for centuries.