Kings of Macedon. Amphipolis. Kassander 306-297 BC. As regent, 317-305 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III. Struck circa 316-311 BC
Tetradrachm AR

25 mm, 16,67 g

Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress, paws tied beneath chin / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated left on low-backed throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle standing right with closed wings, dolphin in left field, pellet-in-Π beneath throne.

Very Fine

Price 133; Troxell, Studies, Issue L7.

Kassander, also known as Cassander, was one of the most powerful figures in the turbulent period following the death of Alexander the Great. Born around 355 BC, he was the son of Antipater, a trusted general and regent of Macedonia under both Philip II and Alexander. Kassander played a crucial role in the Wars of the Diadochi, the conflicts among Alexander's successors as they struggled to control the vast empire left in the wake of his death in 323 BC. Kassander's rise to power was marked by both political cunning and ruthless ambition. After the death of his father Antipater in 319 BC, Kassander found himself in a power struggle with Polyperchon, whom Antipater had appointed as his successor. Refusing to accept Polyperchon's authority, Kassander allied himself with other influential figures, including Ptolemy and Antigonos I Monophthalmos, to strengthen his position. One of Kassander's most notorious actions was his involvement in the murder of Alexander the Great's family. To eliminate potential rivals and secure his hold on Macedonia, Kassander ordered the execution of Alexander's widow, Roxana, and their young son, Alexander IV, around 310 BC. He also had Alexander's mother, Olympias, killed, further consolidating his power. These actions made Kassander one of the most controversial figures of the era, as he was seen as directly responsible for the extinction of Alexander's bloodline. In 305 BC, Kassander declared himself king of Macedonia, formally establishing his rule. During his reign, he focused on consolidating his power in Greece and Macedonia. He founded or rebuilt several cities, the most famous of which is Thessalonica, named after his wife Thessalonike, who was Alexander the Great's half-sister. Kassander's rule was marked by his efforts to maintain stability in Macedonia and Greece amidst the ongoing power struggles among the Diadochi. He was a shrewd and pragmatic ruler, though his legacy is often overshadowed by his brutal actions against Alexander's family and his role in the wider conflicts of the period. Kassander died in 297 BC, and his death led to renewed instability in Macedonia, as his successors were unable to maintain the kingdom's unity. His actions, particularly the elimination of Alexander's heirs, had a profound impact on the course of history, as they effectively ended the Argead dynasty, which had ruled Macedonia for centuries.