Right Click image select "View/Open image..." to see very large hi-resolution image. ALEXANDER the GREAT Silver Tetradrachm Coin Ancient Greek Coinage KINGS of MACEDON ALEXANDER III THE GREAT 336-323 BC. Silver Tetradrachm. 15.70g 25mm. Lifetime / Early Posthumous Issue. Tyre, Phoenicia mint, c. 324-321 BC. Minted in Tyre~the site of Alexander the Great?s Spectacular Siege by turning the island of Tyre into a peninsula~one of this most famous Battles. Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress tied under chin. Reverse: Zeus seated left on throne chair; in left field, -|O (Phoenician 'K = 'Ozmilk [King of Tyre]) above date; A?E?AN??O? right (Of Alexander in Greek). VF / Reverse VF+, areas of roughness from horn silver/corrosion mostly to obverse--striking reverse with iridescent toning. Ref. Price 3267-3272 (Ake). For the reattribution of the Alexander series of Ake (Price) to Tyre, see A. Lemaire, Le monnayage de Tyr et celui dit d'Akko dans la deuxieme moitie du IV siecle avant J.-C., RN 1976, and G. Le Rider, Alexander the Great: Coinage, Finances, and Policy (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 2007), pp. 125-34.E. The whole Le Rider book can be viewed and downloaded free--go to (you will need to copy/paste link): https://ia904502.us.archive.org/14/items/alexander-the-great_202106/Alexander%20the%20Great_text.pdf Azemilcus (also spelled Ozmilk) was the King of Tyre during its famous siege by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. His reign and actions during this critical period highlight the political and military challenges faced by city-states in the ancient Near East when confronted by the expansionist ambitions of larger empires. Historical Context Siege of Tyre: The siege of Tyre is one of the most notable military campaigns of Alexander the Great. After successfully taking control of Byblos and Sidon without resistance, Alexander turned his attention to Tyre, a strategic and wealthy Phoenician city. Tyre's strategic importance was due to its powerful navy and its role as a key maritime hub. Initial Diplomacy: Initially, Tyre sent envoys to Alexander, agreeing to comply with his demands. However, when Alexander expressed his desire to enter the city to sacrifice to Melqart (the Tyrian equivalent of Herakles), the Tyrians refused, stating that neither Persians nor Macedonians could enter their city. This refusal led to Alexander laying siege to Tyre, which was situated on an island and heavily fortified. Role of Azemilcus King of Tyre: During the siege, Azemilcus was away with the Persian fleet. As the siege progressed, he returned to the city and took a defensive stance against Alexander's forces. The Tyrians put up a fierce resistance, utilizing their naval strength and fortifications. Capture of Tyre: After a prolonged and arduous siege that included the construction of a causeway to the island, Alexander's forces eventually breached the city's defenses. Despite the intense resistance, Alexander's army captured Tyre. Aftermath and Legacy Spared by Alexander: Following the city's capture, Azemilcus, along with various other notable figures and envoys from Carthage, sought refuge in the temple of Melqart. Alexander, recognizing their strategic importance and possibly seeking to establish goodwill with the Carthaginians, spared their lives. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUR GUARANTEE: All illustrations are of the actual item offered. The authenticity of all pieces is fully guaranteed. Any item ever shown otherwise may be returned unaltered for full refund less shipping. If any item purchased is not to your satisfaction you may return it unaltered within 30 days of purchase for a full refund less shipping. We also guarantee absolute discretion and confidentiality in all transactions.