Antique Silver Drachm Alexander the Great (356-323 BC)
- True Original: over 2,300 years old
- Heroic Design: Herakles in lion skin
- Hand-struck: every piece unique
- True OriginalGenuine legal tender during the king's lifetime
- Heroic DesignOn the reverse, Zeus enthroned with eagle and scepter
- Hand-struckPatina and strike vary from coin to coin
- True Original: over 2,300 years old
- Heroic Design: Herakles in lion skin
- Hand-struck: every piece unique
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Ancient original · The hellenistic age
Drachm of Alexander the GreatAbout 2,350 years old.
According to the Metropolitan Museum, Alexander saw himself as a descendant of Herakles. That is why his silver shows the hero, together with Zeus, the king of the gods, who meant something to all Greeks.
- Ruler
- Alexander the Great336 to 323 BC
- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Weight
- c. 4 g
According to the Metropolitan Museum, Alexander saw himself as a descendant of Herakles. That is why his silver shows the hero, together with Zeus, the king of the gods, who meant something to all Greeks.
- Ruler
- Alexander the Great336 to 323 BC
- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Weight
- c. 4 g
The hellenistic age · 336 to 30 BC
From Macedonia to the Indus.
With Alexander the coin became a mass medium. His type, Herakles in the lion skin on one side and Zeus enthroned on the other, ran from Macedonia to the Indus and went on being struck long after his death. His generals divided the empire and soon put their own heads on the coins.
The picture shows an example. The piece you receive may differ in detail.
At the same scale
Greeks, Persians, Carthaginians: coins side by side
From the diobol of Teos at 9 mm to the tetradrachm at about 26 mm. Under each piece you see its diameter as our product data give it.
DiobolTeos
9 mm
Bronze coinCarthage
16 mm
SiglosAchaemenids
18 mm
DrachmAlexander the Great
18 mmthis page
Dolphin moneyOlbia
c. 20 mm long
1 eurofor comparison
23.25 mm
TetradrachmAntiochos I Soter
c. 26 mmWhere it belongs
31 originals from about 1,100 years
Each piece stands at the years of its ruler or of its type. The era of this piece is highlighted; choose another one to see its originals.
The hellenistic age 336 to 30 BC · 3 originals
Drachm of Alexander the Great336 to 323 BCthis page
Set for the battle of Gaugamela336 to 323 BC
Tetradrachm of Antiochos I Soter281 to 261 BC
Keeping it
First things first: do not clean it.
The dark layer on bronze and the matte grey on silver are called patina. It has grown over centuries and protects the surface. Polishing it away takes that protection from the piece.
- Hold it by the edgeSkin oil can etch itself permanently into the surface. Take the piece by the rim between thumb and forefinger, over a soft surface.
- Store each piece on its own, and dryKeep each piece on its own in a dry place, in a capsule or an acid-free case. PVC sleeves do not belong there, they attack the surface.
- No agents, no polishing clothNo vinegar, no silver cloth, no ultrasound. According to the Bank of Canada Museum, almost any attempt at cleaning without a conservator leaves damage, mostly from abrasion.
Struck about 2,350 years ago.
Alexander the Great and his world are long gone. The piece has remained, with the traces of its circulation.
Ancient Silver Drachm of Alexander the Great – an Original from the Age of Hellenism
More than 2,300 years old and yet tangible: the ancient silver drachm from the reign of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC) places a piece of genuine world history right in your hand. Each specimen was once struck by hand, passed through countless hands, and tells the story of the greatest empire of antiquity. Whoever owns this coin holds an authentic original from an era in which Greek culture spread from Macedonia through Egypt and Persia all the way to India.
Design and Minting: Herakles and the Enthroned Zeus
The design follows the famous iconography of Macedonian coinage. The obverse depicts the head of Herakles wearing the lion's skin – often bearing the facial features of Alexander himself, a symbol of strength and divinely legitimized power. The reverse shows the enthroned Zeus with eagle and scepter, accompanied by the legend honoring the king. This very iconography made the drachm a leading currency that facilitated trade as far as Asia and North Africa and served as the benchmark for all other coins in circulation.
Precious metal: Silver, fineness 950–980/1,000
Weight: approx. 4 g
Diameter: approx. 18 mm
Minting period: 336–323 BC, Macedonia / Greece
Design: Herakles in lion's skin (obverse) / enthroned Zeus with eagle and scepter (reverse)
Condition: These pieces were circulated as legal tender and bear corresponding traces: darker patina, individual centering, nicks, wear, and in some cases weaker areas of the legend. This is precisely what makes them so appealing. Since the year of minting, mint of origin, and reverse variant can vary, the specimen delivered will differ from the image shown – you receive an original, not a mass-produced item. We therefore ask for your understanding that the image in the shop serves as an example and may individually differ from the delivered item in terms of appearance and condition due to historical circumstances.
Delivery: in a velvet pouch
Because this is ancient circulated coinage, every drachm is a one-of-a-kind piece. Centering, minting quality, and the patina developed over centuries vary individually – and this is exactly what gives these historic silver coins their special appeal. The coin actually delivered may therefore differ from the image shown; denomination and exact year of minting vary within the series.
Small Drachm, Large Tetradrachm
The drachm was the common silver denomination of ancient Greece. Those who collect a larger sister piece will know the tetradrachm – the large silver coin worth four drachms, which at around 17 g and about 27 mm is significantly heavier and more imposing. Both share the same design of Herakles and Zeus. The compact drachm, however, scores with a lower entry point and can be more easily incorporated into a growing collection of ancient originals.
Why Silver Convinces from an Investor's and Collector's Perspective
Silver has been recognized as a store of value for thousands of years and is one of the oldest coinage metals in human history. It combines intrinsic value with high liquidity and serves many people as a solid building block for inflation hedging and crisis protection. Unlike fiat money, which rests solely on trust in governments, silver possesses an intrinsic value derived from its physical properties.
History you can hold: this drachm was genuine legal tender during Alexander's lifetime – today it is a sought-after collector's item and a tangible testament to antiquity.
Arguments for Physical Silver
High industrial demand in electronics, solar, and medical technology
Limited supply, thereby supporting long-term value stability
Diversification of wealth and passing on value across generations
Usable as a medium of exchange in times of currency instability
Profits from sale are tax-free provided the holding period is at least one year
Thus, the ancient silver drachm combines historical collector's value with the enduring qualities of a precious metal that has always been regarded as a symbol of wealth and prestige. In our silver coins category, alongside this ancient original you will find numerous other coinages – from modern investment classics to historical witnesses of their time. Secure this drachm and own a piece of living history that fascinatingly unites a collector's heart with wealth preservation.
Product depiction may differ from the final product.
