Portrait coins were minted to identify and promote the ruler. The obverse (front) mirrored the King or Queen’s image. The reverse usually outlined various accomplishments, victories, or favorite deities of the ruler. Profile portraits suited the very shallow depth and limited surface of the coin. Engravers carved images onto bronze dies, for the obverse and the reverse. Blanks of copper, silver, or gold, and sometimes lead, were then struck one at a time – add automation and electricity and alloy dies, this is basically how modern coins are created.
Two of the best-known faces in antiquity were those of Alexander the Great of Macedon (336–323 BCE) and Ptolemy I, one of Alexander’s successors (diadochi) who ruled Egypt (323 – 310 BC). Alexander’s profile, seen in the coin above, is accented by a lion’s main headdress with the lion’s tooth protruding under his ear.
Alexander was deified as Hercules by the Macedonians. His / Hercules’ profile portrait graced coins for several hundred years well beyond his passing. Alexander the Great conquered the known world from Greece to India and the Macedonians collected the treasures of conquered kingdoms as he swept across the Near East. This gold and silver booty supplied Alexandrine mints in several cities that produced coins bearing his portrait.
The reverse of this coin depicts the god Zeus draped and seated on a backless throne; in his extended right hand he holds an eagle, wings folded. Often a monogram exists under the throne and other symbols in the left and right fields with the legend “Basileus Alexandros” – King Alexander
