Alexander the Great is considered by many to be the greatest military leader in history. He was the king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 BCE and conquered much of the known civilized world, reaching from India to Egypt, and including the Persian Empire. Anyone knowing even the briefest highlights of the reign of Alexander the Great can realize how important an Alexander the Great coin is.

Alexander was a pupil of Aristotle and pursued the ideals of Greek civilization throughout his empire. One popular Alexander the Great coin depicts the head of Herakles (Hercules in Roman) on one side, and depicts an enthroned Zeus on the other. This coin circulated during Alexander’s reign and continued to be produced after his death.

By introducing the Hellenic culture to Egypt and Syria, Alexander is believed by many to have had more influence on the development Judaism than anyone who was not Jewish by birth. There is little, however directly connecting him with Jewish history, except for a visit to Jerusalem, and that following the 332 BCE siege of Tyre, he traveled untroubled through Palestine, except for Gaza, which was destroyed.

The Book of Daniel refers to Alexander the Great, and the Apocryphal book I Maccabees mentions him by name, but other than that, he is not mentioned in the Jewish Bible. Alexander did, however, visit Jerusalem, an event written about by Jewish historian Josephus three centuries later.

Though there is some question of the historical accuracy of some of what was written about Alexander the Great’s visit to Jerusalem, and his granting of Jews the privileges of living in accordance with Jewish law, Josephus wrote that Alexander allowed the Jews the country of Samaria in gratitude for their loyalty. So an Alexander the Great coin has very personal and profound meaning for Jewish people.

Alexander the Great coins were and are powerful, influencing the future coins on three continents, and portraying symbols like Herakles, Zeus, Nike, and Athena. Coins issued under Jewish Kings did not depict Greek or Roman gods, and yet the influence Alexander the Great had on Jewish history, and the love that many Jews had for him make Alexander the Great coins and Alexander the Great coin jewelry richly significant to many Jews.

Whether made into rings, pendants, or other types of jewelry, Alexander the Great coins are popular among many people, both Jewish and gentile, the world over.