Greek: MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.65 gm, 11h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style....

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Elegant Fine Style Dies

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.65 gm, 11h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Late posthumous issue, Colophon, under Philip III Arrhidaeus, ca. 322 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, with features of Alexander III the Great / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, charioteer driving fast biga galloping right, kentron in outstretched right hand, reins in left hand; tripod in lower right field. Le Rider pl. 90, 16. SNG Alpha Bank 260. SNG ANS 309. Strikingly flashy surfaces with well-centered strikes.

From The Cambridge Collection.

While the types of this gold stater issue of Colophon conform to the norm for Philip II (359-336 BC), the magnificent obverse die of this late posthumous issue of Colophon bears a portrait of "Apollo" that is quite distinctive and clearly depicts a real person. Comparison with the coins of Lysimachus and surviving portrait sculpture leaves no doubt the image represents Alexander III the Great himself. The issue seems intended to legitimize the patchwork Macedonian regime put together by Alexander's generals after his death in Babylon under the figurehead rulers Philip III Arrhidaeus, Alexander's slow-witted half-brother, and the infant Alexander IV, his posthumously born son. As such the "Philip" named on the reverse should probably be seen as referring to Arrhidaeus rather than the traditional attribution to Philip II.

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