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Alexander III, 336-323 BC

Kingdom of Macedon: Alexander III, the Great (336-323 BC) Amphipolis Mint circa 330-320; Gold AV Stater (8.60g) Obverse: Head of the goddess Athena wearing a crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a serpent. Reverse: Nike, the winged goddess of Victory standing with a long crossed scepter and holding a wreath in her outstretched right hand and trident head in left field.

(Price Catalog 175)

History of coin subject "Alexander III": Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon "Alexander the Great", (Alexander III of Macedon) 356-323 BC, King of Macedonia, was born in late July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia, he was one of the greatest military genius in history. He conquered much of what was then the civilized world, driven by his divine ambition of the world conquest and the creation of a universal world monarchy. This ancient Greek gold coin was minted by Alexander during his reign, 336-323 BC, and other than the extremely rare disaster, is the highest value coin that he issued. He is considered by many expert historians of ancient culture to be the most efficient General of all time, having conquered most of then-known Western civilization. Assuming the throne at the young age of 20 he set out on an historic expedition to conquer most of the known world. During his brief reign of 13 years he succeeded in defeating every empire that stood in his way. With great personal courage and brilliant military strategy he won victory after victory, and by his enlightened policy of generosity, tolerance and assimilation he turned enemy after enemy into an ally. Alexander assumed the kingship of Macedon following the death of his father Philip II, who had unified most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony in a federation called the League of Corinth. After reconfirming Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion of southern Greek city-states and staging a short but bloody excursion against Macedon's northern neighbors, Alexander set out east against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which he defeated and overthrew. His conquests included Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia, and he extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as Punjab, India.

Alexander had already made plans prior to his death for military and mercantile expansions into the Arabian peninsula, after which he was to turn his armies to the west (Carthage, Rome and the Iberian Peninsula). His original vision, however, had been to the east, to the ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea, as is described by his boyhood tutor and mentor Aristotle.

Alexander integrated many foreigners into his army, leading some scholars to credit him with a "policy of fusion". He also encouraged marriages between his soldiers and foreigners, and he himself went on to marry two foreign princesses.

Alexander died after twelve years of constant military campaigning, possibly a result of malaria, poisoning, typhoid fever, viral encephalitis or the consequences of alcoholism. His legacy and conquests lived on long after him and ushered in centuries of Greek settlement and cultural influence over distant areas. This period is known as the Hellenistic period, which featured a combination of Greek, Middle Eastern and Indian culture. Alexander himself featured prominently in the history and myth of both Greek and non-Greek cultures. His exploits inspired a literary tradition in which he appeared as a legendary hero in the tradition of Achilles.

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Alexander III, 336-323 BC

KINGDOM of MACEDON. Alexander III "Alexander the Great", 336-323 BC. AV Stater (8.58g). Sardes mint. Struck circa 325-323 BC. Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with serpent, single-pendant earring, and necklace Reverse: Nike standing right, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; below left wing, rams head left. Price 2528; ADM I series I, 1

History of coin subject "Alexander III": Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon "Alexander the Great", (Alexander III of Macedon) 356-323 BC, King of Macedonia, was born in late July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia, he was one of the greatest military genius in history. He conquered much of what was then the civilized world, driven by his divine ambition of the world conquest and the creation of a universal world monarchy. This ancient Greek gold coin was minted by Alexander during his reign, 336-323 BC, and other than the extremely rare disaster, is the highest value coin that he issued. He is considered by many expert historians of ancient culture to be the most efficient General of all time, having conquered most of then-known Western civilization. Assuming the throne at the young age of 20 he set out on an historic expedition to conquer most of the known world. During his brief reign of 13 years he succeeded in defeating every empire that stood in his way. With great personal courage and brilliant military strategy he won victory after victory, and by his enlightened policy of generosity, tolerance and assimilation he turned enemy after enemy into an ally. Alexander assumed the kingship of Macedon following the death of his father Philip II, who had unified most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony in a federation called the League of Corinth. After reconfirming Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion of southern Greek city-states and staging a short but bloody excursion against Macedon's northern neighbors, Alexander set out east against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which he defeated and overthrew. His conquests included Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia, and he extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as Punjab, India.

Alexander had already made plans prior to his death for military and mercantile expansions into the Arabian peninsula, after which he was to turn his armies to the west (Carthage, Rome and the Iberian Peninsula). His original vision, however, had been to the east, to the ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea, as is described by his boyhood tutor and mentor Aristotle.

Alexander integrated many foreigners into his army, leading some scholars to credit him with a "policy of fusion". He also encouraged marriages between his soldiers and foreigners, and he himself went on to marry two foreign princesses.

Alexander died after twelve years of constant military campaigning, possibly a result of malaria, poisoning, typhoid fever, viral encephalitis or the consequences of alcoholism. His legacy and conquests lived on long after him and ushered in centuries of Greek settlement and cultural influence over distant areas. This period is known as the Hellenistic period, which featured a combination of Greek, Middle Eastern and Indian culture. Alexander himself featured prominently in the history and myth of both Greek and non-Greek cultures. His exploits inspired a literary tradition in which he appeared as a legendary hero in the tradition of Achilles.

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Anonymous, 211-211 BC

Roman Republic, Anonymous; AV Gold 60 Asses after 211 BC, (3.35g). Bearded and draped head of Mars facing right, wearing Corinthian helmet; in l. field, mark of value, aX. Reverse: Eagle standing right, with spread wings, on thunderbolt. Below, ROMA.

History of coin subject "Anonymous": On these coins of the Roman Empire the emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design, hence they are anonymous.

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Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161

History of coin subject "Antoninus Pius": Roman emperor from ad 138 to 161. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of internal peace and prosperity. His family originated in Gaul, and his father and grandfathers had all been consuls.

After serving as consul in 120, Antoninus was assigned by the emperor Hadrian (ruled 117–138) to assist with judicial administration in Italy. He governed the province of Asia (c. 134) and then became an adviser to the Emperor. In 138 Antoninus was adopted by Hadrian and designated as his successor. Hadrian specified that two men—the future emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus—were to succeed Antoninus. Upon acceding to power, Antoninus persuaded a reluctant Senate to offer the customary divine honours to Hadrian. For this, and possibly other such dutiful acts, he was given the surname Pius by the Senate. When his wife, Faustina, died in late 140 or early 141 he founded in her memory the Puellae Faustinianae, a charitable institution for the daughters of the poor.

References to Antoninus in 2nd-century literature are exceptionally scanty; it is certain that few striking events occurred during his 23-year reign. A rebellion in Roman Britain was suppressed, and in 142 a 36-mile (58-kilometre) garrisoned barrier—called the Antonine Wall—was built to extend the Roman frontier some 100 miles north of Hadrian’s Wall. Antoninus’ armies contained revolts in Mauretania, Germany, Dacia, and Egypt.

The feeling of well-being that pervaded the empire under Antoninus is reflected in the celebrated panegyric by the orator Aelius Aristides in 143–144. After Antoninus’ death, however, the empire suffered invasion by hostile tribes, followed by severe civil strife.

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Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161

Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AR Denarius . Rome mint. Struck AD 150. Laureate head right / Fortuna Redux standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia.

History of coin subject "Antoninus Pius": Roman emperor from ad 138 to 161. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of internal peace and prosperity. His family originated in Gaul, and his father and grandfathers had all been consuls.

After serving as consul in 120, Antoninus was assigned by the emperor Hadrian (ruled 117–138) to assist with judicial administration in Italy. He governed the province of Asia (c. 134) and then became an adviser to the Emperor. In 138 Antoninus was adopted by Hadrian and designated as his successor. Hadrian specified that two men—the future emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus—were to succeed Antoninus. Upon acceding to power, Antoninus persuaded a reluctant Senate to offer the customary divine honours to Hadrian. For this, and possibly other such dutiful acts, he was given the surname Pius by the Senate. When his wife, Faustina, died in late 140 or early 141 he founded in her memory the Puellae Faustinianae, a charitable institution for the daughters of the poor.

References to Antoninus in 2nd-century literature are exceptionally scanty; it is certain that few striking events occurred during his 23-year reign. A rebellion in Roman Britain was suppressed, and in 142 a 36-mile (58-kilometre) garrisoned barrier—called the Antonine Wall—was built to extend the Roman frontier some 100 miles north of Hadrian’s Wall. Antoninus’ armies contained revolts in Mauretania, Germany, Dacia, and Egypt.

The feeling of well-being that pervaded the empire under Antoninus is reflected in the celebrated panegyric by the orator Aelius Aristides in 143–144. After Antoninus’ death, however, the empire suffered invasion by hostile tribes, followed by severe civil strife.

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