Coins of Rulers

The previous portion of the exhibition, "Visual Currencies," explored how images on coins represent different aspects of identity (sometimes all at once) of an individual, a specific place, or a broader geographic region.

This section of the exhibition "Coins of Rulers" highlights coins minted by imperial powers beginning with Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE through the first century BCE with a coin of the infamous last ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Cleopatra VII (and her lover from Rome, Marc Antony). "Conquests of Alexander the Great" features coins with the earliest representations of a living ruler, Alexander the Great. In addition to portraying a power individual on the coins, many of the coins on display here were issued by an important individual, Mazdaios, a governor-general of many Persian provinces. "Egypt and the Coming of Rome" highlights coins of rulers following Alexander's death in Babylon in 323 BCE. The section begins with a "portrait" coin of Alexander's general, Ptolemy I, who claimed the territory in Alexandria, Egypt as his own, initiating the longest ruling kingdom of the Hellenistic Period, the Ptolemaic Dynasty (305-30 BCE). 

Continue scrolling to read more about "Coins of Rulers." The coins on display in this section of the exhibition correspond to those on view in Bay 3 of the physical installation in the gallery of the CU Art Museum. 

Conquests of Alexander the Great

The coins on display depicting Alexander the Great are thought to be the earliest representations of a living ruler on coinage. Several of the coins in this section were commissioned by Mazdaios, the governor-general of multiple Persian provinces. When Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, he is said to have been so impressed by Mazdaios that he named him governor of Babylon.

Mazdaios’ coins show his skill in consolidating imperial power through imagery. While still serving as a Persian governor, he made coins including a Silver Stater in the coastal cities of Tarsus (modern Turkey) and Byblos and Sidon (modern Lebanon) that featured Persian imperial imagery. After Alexander’s conquest, the coins Mazdaios minted in Babylon portray the Greek demigod Heracles, shown wearing the lion skin like on the Silver Tetradrachm in the CU Art Museum's collection with the facial features of Alexander. Alexander and the rulers who followed him loved this imagery, and similar representations of Alexander-as-divine figure became common such as on the Gold Stater minted at Pergamon. The final coin in this group is a Silver Tetradrachm that shows Alexander with the horns of a ram, associating him with the Greek-Egyptian god Zeus Ammon.

Silver Stater, Tarsus, 363-334 BCE; Reverse: Lion attacking bull. Inscription MZDI (“Mazdaios” in Aramaic).

Silver Stater, Tarsus, 363-334 BCE

Reverse: Lion attacking bull.

Silver Shekel, Byblos, 365-360 BCE; Obverse: Warriors in battleship with lion head, winged hippocamp, murex shell. Inscription ZO (meaning uncertain).

Silver Shekel, Byblos, 365-360 BCE

Obverse: Hippocamp with boat and soldiers above. 

Silver Half Shekel, Sidon, 410-400 BCE; Reverse: Persian king in court robe and crown combats rampant lion.

Silver Half Shekel, Sidon, 410-400 BCE

Reverse: The Great King smiting a lion. 

Silver Tetradrachm, Babylon, 331-323 BCE; Obverse: Head of Heracles with lion skin and features of Alexander.

Silver Tetradrachm, Babylon, 336-323 BCE (CUAM 2014.06.22)

Obverse: Head of Alexander as Heracles wearing Nemean lion skin.

Silver Tetradrachm, Babylon, 325-323 BCE; Obverse: Head of Heracles with lion skin and features of Alexander.

Silver Tetradrachm, Babylon, 356-323 BCE

Obverse: Head of Alexander as Heracles wearing Nemean lion skin.

Gold Stater, Pergamon, mid- to late-330s BCE; Obverse: Head of Heracles with lion skin and features of Alexander.

Gold Stater, Pergamon, mid- to late-330s BCE

Obverse: Head of Alexander as Heracles wearing Nemean lion skin.

Silver Tetradrachm, Sestos, 297-281 BCE; Obverse: Head of Alexander with horns of Zeus Ammon.

Silver Tetradrachm, Sestos, 297-281 BCE (CUAM 2014.06.37)

Obverse: Head of Alexander with horns of Zeus Ammon.

Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 305-282 BCE; Obverse: Head of Ptolemy I, wearing a royal diadem. Inscription Δ = artist’s signature.

Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 305-282 BCE

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, after 265 BCE; Obverse: Heads of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II. Inscription ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ (“ADELPHON” = “of siblings”).

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, after 265 BCE (obverse)

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, after 265 BCE; Reverse: Heads of Ptolemy I and Berenice I. Inscription ΘΕΩΝ (“THEON” = “of gods”).

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, after 265 BCE (reverse)

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, 253/2-246 BCE; Obverse: Posthumous image of Arsinoe II with horn of Zeus Ammon below ear. Inscription Λ (“L” = a die sequence letter).

Gold Octadrachm, Alexandria, 253/2-246 BCE

Obverse: Bust of Cleopatra VII. Inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑ ΘΕΑ ΝΕΩΤΕΡΑ (“BASILISSA KLEOPATRA THEA NEOTERA” = “Queen Cleopatra, the younger goddess”).

Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 36 BCE (obverse)

Reverse: Head of Mark Antony. Inscription ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΤΡΙΤΟΝ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΑΝΔΡΩΝ (“ANTONIOS AUTOKRATOR TRITON TRION ANDRON” = “Antonius, imperator for the third time, one of the triumvirs”).

Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 36 BCE (reverse)

Egypt and the Coming of Rome

Following Alexander, it became normal to feature images of rulers on coins. The first coin shows Ptolemy I, ruler of Egypt and Alexander’s half-brother, clearly recognizable by his facial features. The two gold coins were made by his children, Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II – one of them with their parents to emphasize legitimacy. Arsinoe II was deified after her death, and the second gold coin depicts her with the divine horn of Zeus Ammon protruding under her ear. The final coin shows the last Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra VII, as queen and goddess on the obverse and her Roman lover, Marc Antony, with an imperial title on the reverse. 

This online exhibition was designed, implemented, and published by Phoebe Mock (PhD student, University of Michigan; MA in Classics, University of Colorado Boulder).