Ancient Greece - 336-323 BCE Kingdom of Macedon Alexander III AR Tetradrachm NGC Choice XF

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AR tetradrachm (17.23 gm). NGC Choice XF. Surface: 4/5, Strike: 4/5. Struck circa 332-323 BC. Obverse: head of Heracles facing right, wearing lion skin headdress, paws tied before neck. Reverse: AΛEΞANΔPOY with Zeus seated left on backless throne, left leg drawn back, feet on stool, eagle in right hand, scepter in left; bow left in left field.

Archaeological site of Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

It was in 336 BCE that Alexander became ruler of Macedonia after the murder of his father Philip II. Situated in the northeastern region of modern Greece, ancient Macedonia had become powerful under Philip II. Despite being only 20 years old, Alexander launched a massive military campaign against the Persian Empire. The area of controversy between the Greeks and Persians was Asia Minor (modern day Turkey before the arrival of the Turks).

Most of the coastal cities of Asia Minor were populated by Greek-speaking people, however they were ruled by the Persians. Thus Alexander invaded Asia Minor to free the Greeks and push out the Persians. The armies of Alexander swooped down into Egypt and then circled back, swallowing up land from there to India. Every army that faced the forces of Alexander was defeated for 13 years. However, while traveling back home to Macedonia through Babylon, Alexander died at the age of 33 in 323 BCE.