The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 10, 2026

An irregularly circular silver coin depicts the profile head of Alexander the Great facing right, eye wide and lips slightly parted. He wears a lion-skin headdress, the animal's snout resting above his forehead and paws tied beneath his chin. Curly hair emerges from under the headdress. The metallic surface shows wear, with a dark patina in recessed areas and worn, irregular edges.

Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse)

306 BCE

Egypt, Greco-Roman period , minted at Alexandria

(332 BCE–395 CE), reign of Ptolemy I (303–282 BCE)
silver
Overall: 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.994.a
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The image of Alexander the Great in an elephant headdress references his Eastern conquests.
  • Stories from Storage. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 7-May 16, 2021).
  • {{cite web|title=Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse)|url=false|author=|year=306 BCE|access-date=10 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.994.a