Dekadrachm - Alexander III Babylon 325 BC - 323 BC
| Silver | 40.34 g | 35 mm |
| Issuer | Kingdom of Macedonia |
|---|---|
| King | Alexander III the Great (336 BC - 323 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 325 BC - 323 BC |
| Value | Decadrachm (10) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 40.34 g |
| Diameter | 35 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#197040 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram above M below throne.
Script: Greek
Lettering:
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ
M
Translation: Alexander (III, the Great)
Comment
Fewer than twenty dekadrachms of Alexander are known to exist today. Eight pieces originate from the 1973 Babylon' Hoard (aka the Mesopotamia Hoard), and a smaller 1989 find that Martin Price believed to be a part of the original 1973 deposit.
Struck in three emissions from a mint generally considered to be at Babylon, but possibly Susa or Ekbatana, the dekadrachms formed part of a massive conversion of bullion seized from the Persian Royal treasuries at Susa and Persepolis - around 180,000 Attic talents (4,680 metric tonnes). A small amount of this silver was minted into dekadrachms, possibly for presentation purposes, as the size of these coins made them impractical for daily use.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Dekadrachm - Alexander III (Babylon) coin is that it features an image of the king with a horned helmet, which symbolizes his connection to the gods and his divine right to rule.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ND (325 BC - 323 BC) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for Dekadrachm - Alexander III (Babylon) (325 BC - 323 BC) coin.
