Georges Le Rider is a noted French Classical scholar and numismatist. This translation of his work on Alexander the Great was made and updated with his cooperation. When we hear about the conquests of Alexander few people stop to wonder how he paid for them. Le Rider delves into the coin hoards of the conquered countries to trace Alexander's progress and the message he wanted his money to convey. He uses commentaries from ancient historians to discover where the gold and silver came from and what fiscal policy Alexander had, if any. This is a clear and fascinating study. The coins are shown in plates at the end of the book. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
