Alexander III of Macedon is remembered as one of the greatest military commanders in history. Known today as Alexander the Great, he conquered many lands including the vast Persian Empire of Xerxes I. After his victory, Alexander had vast amounts of Persian golden darics and silver siglos coins melted down, then used to mint Greek coinage including drachms.
A soldier would have been paid around one drachm per day pay. This Greek drachm dated from the 3rd Century BC, weighs 3.61g and measures 17mm in diameter. The obverse is of Herakles (Roman Hercules) wearing a lionskin headdress. Many believe the portrait is that of Alexander himself in the guise of Herakles. The reverse is of Zeus, seated, holding an eagle and sceptre.
Alexander treated the Jewish people well compared to his successors. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote of how the High Priest met Alexander, when he was in Jerusalem, showing him where the Bible predicted several centuries earlier his rise to power and victory over the Persians. In Daniel chapter 8 v1-8 Alexander is the he goat that defeats the ram (Persia ). As predicted, he died/was broken off at the height of his power and his Empire was divided.
It is said that when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept because he had no more worlds to conquer. He said "Bury my body, don't build any monument. Keep my hands outside so that the world knows the one who won the world had nothing in hand when he died". Today many people are mini Alexanders . These people seek after power, fame, fortune and just a little more…but one greater than Alexander - the Lord Jesus Christ - said "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8v36