Unknown Maker, Greek

Upon his death, Alexander the Great divided his empire among several of his officers. The general Lysimachos, who received the province of Thrace, minted a coin to justify his power. The obverse of the coin references the occasion during which Alexander had been hailed as a son of Zeus Ammon, a horned Libyan god. The reverse of the coin shows a seated Athena holding winged Victory, who crowns the name Lysimachos. Lysimachos at once honors Alexander and the gods by revering them, and promotes himself by alluding to his relationship with the gods and their entrusting him with power.