The Greek drachma (Eλληνική δραχμή) was the name given to the currency of Ancient Greece. It takes its name from the drachma, the ancient unit of measurement used in many Greek city-states and in many Middle Eastern kingdoms of the Hellenistic period. Alexander the Great was the legendary king of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Macedon. Born in 356 BC and tutored by Aristotle, he succeeded his father, Philip II, when he was just 20 years old. In just 10 years from his ascension to the throne, he built one of the largest empires of the Ancient World, as his kingdom stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River. He died in Babylon, which he intended to make the capital of his empire, in 323 BC, at just 33 years of age. The inclusion of both Herakles and Zeus on the coin refers not only to Alexander’s heroic abilities, but also alludes to his prowess and supreme lineage.
Ancient Greek Alexander the Great Silver Drachm Cufflinks
£ 1,795.00
A pair of ancient Greek silver drachms minted during the reign of Alexander the Great, encased in an 18k gold frame. The face of each cufflink presents the coin’s obverse, which depicts the profiled head of Herakles, wearing his characteristic lion-skin headdress. The reverse, partly covered by the frame, displays the Greek god Zeus enthroned to the left, holding an eagle in his right hand and a sceptre. The Greek inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟ[Υ] is written vertically to the right of the figure of Zeus in the genitive case, which translates as, ALEXANDROY meaning ‘[the coinage] of Alexander’. To the reverse a linked cable chain connects the cufflink face to a gold bar, acting as a foot. The cufflinks are hallmarked to the reverse. Please note that the cufflink faces vary slightly in shape and size due to the individual nature of the coins.
Condition: Excellent. Ancient coins set in modern gold frames.
SOLD
| Weight | 16.81 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 2.5 x W 1.7 cm |
| Greek & Hellenistic Rulers | Alexander the Great |
| Greek Mythology | Herakles, Zeus |
| Metal | Gold, Silver |
| Region | Southern Europe |
