ABSTRACT

Ptolemy is the first of Alexander’s successors and the first minting authority ever to issue whole series of coins with Alexander’s portrait.1 Within a few years after Alexander’s death Ptolemy discontinues the conventional coins issued in his lifetime (Herakles/Zeus-type) and introduces the portrait of Alexander wearing an elephant’s scalp on his gold, silver, and bronze coinage. Additional bronze coins also feature two variants of another type with the horn of Zeus Ammon and a fillet only. A scenic representation of Alexander driving in a quadriga of elephants appears on a gold coin issued for a short while around 300 bc.