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Hellenistic Coinage The legacy of Alexander

Hellenistic Coinage The legacy of Alexander. Athenian tetradrachm , 450. Obverse: Athena with diadem Reverse: owl and olive branch ΑΘΕ = ( Ἀθῆνα = “Athena”) The ubiquitous coinage of the Athenian empire. Alexander’s coinage, 332-323. Obverse: Herakles with lionskin

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Hellenistic Coinage The legacy of Alexander

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  1. Hellenistic CoinageThe legacy of Alexander

  2. Athenian tetradrachm, 450 Obverse: Athena with diadem Reverse: owl and olive branchΑΘΕ = (Ἀθῆνα = “Athena”) The ubiquitous coinage of the Athenian empire

  3. Alexander’s coinage, 332-323 Obverse: Herakles with lionskin Reverse: Zeus enthroned with eagle and scepterΔΙΟ (= Dio, “of Zeus”), ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (= Alexandrou, “of Alexander”) The most widely circulated coinage in the ancient world Interpretations include Herakles-cum-Alexander and Zeus as Baal

  4. Ptolemy’s coinage: ca. 321 (Egypt) Obverse (both): Alexander with elephant scalp, Zeus Ammon’s ram’s horn and aegis Reverse: Athena Alkidemos (patron deity of Macedonia), shield, spear, helmet ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ(= Alexandrou, “of Alexander”)

  5. Ptolemy’s coinage, 305-283(305, establishes βασιλεῖα – basileia, “kingdom”) Obverse: personalized portrait of Ptolemy I Soter (savior of Rhodes vs. Demetrius Poliorcetes) with diadem and aegis (youthful despite his age of 60: luxuriant hair, upward Alexandrian gaze) Reverse: eagle with thunderbolt (aegis, eagle and thunderbolt all attributes of Zeus) ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (= PtolemaiouBasileōs, “of King Ptolemy”)

  6. Ptolemy II Philadelphus’ coinage, 260s (Egypt)(succeeded Ptolemy I Soter, 283-246)(precedents continued throughout dynasty) Obverse and reverse: Ptolemy II and sister/wife Arsinoe II with diadems Obverse: ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ (= Adelphōn, “of the siblings”) Reverse: ΘΕΩΝ (= Theōn, “of the gods”) Emphasis on family and dynastic continuity Brother-sister marriage scandalous to Greeks, common to Egyptians Arsinoe previously married to Lysimachus; half-brother Ptolemy Ceraunus Ptolemy named Red Sea port in her honor Deified Ptolemy I and BereniceI on their deaths, receiving state cults, temples

  7. Seleucus I’s coinage, 301(?) (eastern Asia Minor) (305, establishes βασιλεῖα – basileia, “kingdom”) Obverse: Seleucus or Alexander, leopardskin helmet with bullhorn and ear (leopardskin is attribute of Dionysus, conqueror of India) Reverse: Nike (“Victory”) crowning trophy, head of Helios below (trophy signals victory over Antigonus I Monophthalmus at Ipsos, 301) (Helios signifies territory reaching to the rising sun) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (= BasileōsSeleukou, “of King Seleucus”)

  8. Antiochus I Soter’s coinage (succeeded Seleucus I, 280-261) Obverse: Antiochus I Soter with diadem (“Soter” for victory over Gauls, 276) (personalized, older man, tousled hair, beardless, divine gaze) Reverse: Apollo seated on omphalos with bow and arrow (patron deity of Seleucids at Daphni near Antioch) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (= BasileōsAntiochou, “of King Antiochos”)

  9. Lysimachus’ coinage, 297-281 (Thrace, Asia Minor) (305, establishes βασιλεῖα – basileia, “kingdom”) (coinage endured for centuries) Obverse: deified Alexander with diadem and horns of Zeus Ammon (youthful, tousled hair, beardless, divine gaze) (Alexander as political ancestor and patron deity) Reverse: Athena Nikephoros (“bringer of victory”) with Nike crowning the Λ (reference to victory at Ipsos, 301; lionhead on shield = Lysimachos’ device) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ (= BasileōsLysimachou, “of King Lysimachos”) Below: maeander (= mint at Magnesia-on-the-Maeander)

  10. Demetrius Poliorcetes’ coinage, 290(imminent invasion of Asia Minor) (306, establishes βασιλεῖα – basileia, “kingdom”) Obverse: deified Demetrius (!) with diadem and bullhorns of Poseidon (youthful, tousled hair, beardless, divine gaze; bull/Poseidon = ram/Zeus) (first living ruler to depict himself as divine) Reverse: Poseidon with trident (reference to naval victory over Ptolemy’s fleet at Cyprus, 306) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ (= BasileōsDemetriou, “of King Demetrius”) Power based on fleet (defeated by Seleucus 286, died in captivity 283)

  11. Perseus, last king of Macedonia, 179-166 Obverse: bearded Perseus with diadem (tousled hair, divine gaze, but bearded, weak mouth – not all of Alexander’s attributes) Reverse: Eagle (reference to naval victory over Ptolemy’s fleet at Cyprus, 306) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΕΡΣΕΩΣ (= BasileōsPerseōs, “of King Perseus”) Power based on fleet (defeated by Seleucus 286, died in captivity 283)

  12. Augustus, Rome’s 1st emperor, 13 CEWhat is Alexander’s legacy in Roman coinage? Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, with laurel crown (“Caesar Augustus son of the divine [Julius Caesar], father of the fatherland”) Reverse: AVG F TR POT XV, TI CAESAR(“Son of Aug(ustus), with tribunician power for the 15th time, Ti(berius) Caesar”) Tiberius riding quadriga right, holding eagle-tipped scepter

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