Alexander the Great, 1 Dollar, Series: Great Commanders

“Alexander the Great” is a sixth coin in the „Great Commanders” series. The Mint of Poland has decided to depict the greatest and the most heroic and charismatic commanders on commemorative coins. The series has already included the coins: “Napoleon Bonaparte”, “Mikhail Kutuzov”, „Sitting Bull” as well as the coins manufactured by the Kazakhstan Mint, “Chingiz Khan” and “Attila the Hun”.

He was only 20 years old when he inherited the throne of Macedon. The time of his reign encompassed 12 years of building a great empire; it is also the story of a man who demonstrated unusual sensitivity while showing no scruple when fighting to maintain power. The reason of his death hasn’t been fully explained and is still a mystery for many historian.  Alexander the Great was definitively an outstanding strategist, and one of the greatest conquerors in history.

 “Alexander the Great” coin was struck on blank of Ag 925, in low mintage – up to 5,000 pieces, in proof quality.

Obverse:
In the central part of the coin a decorative motif taken from a vase painting, well known from the Alexander the Great times, showing fighting hoplites. At the top, the image of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, and the mint’s mark (m/w), surrounded by a Greek ornament. At the sides, semi-circular inscription: NIUE ISLAND (issuer). At the bottom the  face value: 1 DOLLAR.

Reverse:
In the central part of the coin the image of Alexander the Great – the warrior, taken from preserved coins of the era, and shields featuring the leader’s coat of arms. In the background, in the pad printing technology, the commander’s army in the Macedonian phalanx formation. At the top, an inscription in English language: ALEXANDER THE GREAT, at the bottom, years of Alexander’s life: 356-323 BC.

Designer: Sebastian Mikołajczak

Alexander III of Macedon (known as Alexander the Great), the ancient king of Macedon, descended from the Argead dynasty, lived between 356-323 BC. He is considered an outstanding strategist, one of the greatest conquerors in history. The time of Alexander’s reign (335-323 BC) marks the line between two eras of ancient history: the classical period and the Hellenistic era. His father, Philip II (382-336 BC), was the initiator of Macedonian hegemony. His mother was Olympias, the daughter of the King of Epirus, Neoptolemus. Already as a child, Alexander showed great courage, intelligence, and enormous ambition. He received excellent education, with Aristotle among his teachers. When he succeeded to the throne he was only 20. Over his reign of 12 years he built a great empire. Thanks to his exceptional fighting skills and prominent charisma, as well as unusual social sensitivity, he was able to renew the alliance with Greece, invaded Persia, conquered the cities in western Asia Minor, took over Egypt, founded Alexandria, and then pushed into areas lying within the territories of today’s Afghanistan and north-eastern Iran (329-327 BC). In the spring of 327 BC he went on a campaign to conquer India. He successfully reached the Indus River, but was forced to retreat. During the preparations for other conquests he developed a fatal illness, probably malaria. There are numerous theories on the actual cause of Alexander’s death but the case has not found a successful explanation to date. Following Alexander’s death the empire was divided into several mutually hostile parts. He was a great military talent, an excellent strategist and tactician, as well as an outstanding politician and administrator. Alexander rejected the traditional division into Greeks and barbarians, showing equal treatment to Macedonians and loyal Persian leaders. He dreamt of universalist tolerance and co-existence of all religions, and brotherhood of nations. Alexander’s actions were pivotal to spreading the Hellenistic culture and commercial exchange through the introduction of a unified monetary system. Alexander the Great’s campaigns also largely influenced the development of Greek learning. As a result, the image of the world was enhanced, and the pervading cultures led to the creation of many notable works of art or pieces of literature.