Alexander the Great paid his army in gold like this, and the coins traveled with his soldiers from Greece to the edge of India. This gold stater of the Kingdom of Macedon was struck during his reign or in the years just after his death in 323 BC, when his types remained the standard coinage of the ancient world. The stater was the premier gold denomination of its day, funding campaigns, tribute, and trade across an empire that stretched three continents. Weighing 8.55 grams, it is one of the most recognized gold issues to survive from antiquity.

The obverse shows the helmeted head of Athena facing right, her Corinthian helmet crested with a coiled serpent and her hair falling in fine engraved strands beneath it. The portrait carries sharp relief and strong device definition, with the helmet ornament and facial features clearly rendered. On the reverse stands Nike, the winged goddess of victory, holding a wreath in her extended right hand and a stylis, the naval standard, in her left. Her drapery and wing feathers are well struck, and the Greek legend runs boldly down the right field.

NGC Ancients has graded this stater Choice About Uncirculated with a Strike of 4/5 and a Surface of 4/5, a strong combination for the type. The gold retains warm color and even surfaces, with only light handling marks and a trace of high-point wear consistent with the grade. Coins bearing Alexander's name are among the most sought after of all ancient issues, and the gold stater sits at the top of that series for both size and design. For those seeking a well-struck example of Alexander's gold coinage, this piece delivers. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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336-323 BC Alexander the Great Gold Stater NGC Choice About Uncirculated 4x4