Kazakhstan: Latest Silver Commemorative Coin in ‘Great Commanders’ Series Features Alexander the Great

The first series focusing on Great Military commanders was issued between 2008 and 2014, the second series commences with this release and continues into next year with a collector coin featuring Suleiman I, Sultan of the Ottoman realm. For 2024, the coin focuses on King Alexander III of Macedon, also known as the Great. Alexander had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world. Born in the city of Pella in the year 356 BC, he was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. He succeeded his father to the throne at the age of 20 and soon after embarked on an unprecedented military campaign through Western Asia and North eastern Africa. By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to north western India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered one of history’s most successful military commanders. Alexander’s army reached into Central Asia, which began as a war with Darius III Codomannus, the Achaemenid monarch of Persia. Alexander named this region Transoxiana after conquering it. Located in lower Central Asia, it included parts of present-day southern Kazakhstan, eastern Uzbekistan, and western Tajikistan. In 329 BC, Alexander and his army fought the Saka tribes at the Jaxartes River, which is now known as the Syr Darya River. Turning south in 326 BC, Alexander headed to India winning an important victory over the Pauravas at the Battle of the Hydaspes and expanded his Empire even further. However, at the behest of his homesick troops, Alexander left abruptly and attempted to make his way back to Macedon. Unfortunately, before he could return, he died in the city of Babylon in the year 323 BC, where he had hoped to establish a capital of his greater Empire.

The silver proof coins are produced by the Kazakhstan Mint at their facilities in Ust-Kamenogorsk on behalf of the National Bank. The obverse side features a replicated gold Tetradrachm minted during the reign of Alexander the Great and applied with gold plating. Above the coin and along the rim is the text in English ALEXANDER THE GREAT and below, horizontal rows of Greek Key design elements. Between the two rows is a replicated scene of the Battle of Jaxartes in 329 BC. Below the battle scene is the year of issue, 2024. The reverse side includes a stylised pattern of arrows which surrounds the Kazakhstan national crest centred and plated in gold. Around the arrow pattern is the text QAZAQSTAN RESPÝBLIKASY and REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN with a small crest of the National Bank placed in between. Below the primary design are the coins’ specifications and denomination, 31.1 G 1000 TEŃGE AG 925 separated by small diamond shapes.  

Available from the 27^th December, the coins are encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the online e-webshop of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.