4th century BCE
Æ 13mm 2.52g 9h
Head of Apollo to right /
Stag kneeling to right, head reverted; A above.
Cox, Curium 3; Destrooper pl. 10, 12
Like most of the ancient kingdoms of Cyprus, Kourion already had significant history by the time Alexander the Great took ownership. Archeological evidence today shows it’s been occupied for at least 7000 years.
The Kingdom of Kourion was created in roughly 1000 BCE, and was among the most powerful on the island for some time. Eventually, the Assyrians took control, then the Egyptians, and then the Persians.
The Persians were never entirely welcomed on Cyprus, so when Alexander the Great invaded the mainland, the Cypriot kingdoms were quick to shift their allegiance from the Persians under the naval commander Autophradates to Alexander. They then participated in his Siege of Tyre.
At the time of Alexander the Great, Pasikrates was king. After Alexander’s death, the Ptolemies wrested control and eliminated each of the Cypriot kingdoms, including Kourion.
The ruins of the city are still visitable, including the remnants of a temple to Apollo that was very important in its time.
This particular coin was minted either during the reign of Alexander or shortly thereafter. It uses his name and type.
circa 325 BCE
Æ 17mm 5.12g, 2h.
In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress /
Bow-in-bowcase and club; laurel branch below, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ between.
Price 3113; Cox Curium, 8; ANS 1944.100.26537