Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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Northern Greece. Kings of Macedon, Philip III, 323 - 317 BC. Stater, Babylon, c. 323 - 319. (Gold, 8.56g., 20mm). Head of Athena to right, wearing pendant earring, necklace and crested Corinthian helmet adorned with serpent coiled to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Nike standing left, holding wreath in her right hand and stylis with her left; below her left wing, ΛΥ; to right, Μ. Price P 178.
A lovely, attractive coin, sharply struck on a broad flan. Good extremely fine.
Provenance: Numismatica Genevensis SA V, 2 December 2008, 76. Leu 72, 12 May 1998, 188.
Philip Arrhidaeus was a curious and tragic individual. He was the son of Philip II and his early wife Philinna, and was born c. 357 about the time of Philip's marriage to his far more dangerous wife Olympias, the mother of Alexander. He seems to have been mentally impaired, possibly through a birth defect or, and more luridly, through a poison administered by Olympias that had been meant to kill him. In any case, he was unfit to rule and so, while Philip II's eldest son, was passed over as heir to the kingdom in favor of Alexander. In fact, Alexander seems to have liked him and took him along on the long campaigns in Asia (in part, certainly, to prevent him from being used by his enemies). When Alexander died Arrhidaeus was in Babylon and was proclaimed king under the name Philip III (with provision for Alexander's wife Roxane's unborn child to be proclaimed joint-ruler if he proved male: which he did under the name Alexander IV). Philip III's 'rule' took place under a succession of regents, beginning with Perdiccas, followed by Antipater and Polyperchon. Philip III was married to Eurydice, daughter of his half-sister Cynane (who was murdered by order of Perdiccas): Eurydice had ambitions to actually rule through her husband and in order to do so allied herself with Cassander, the son of Antipater (he had expected to be made regent in succession to his father, but the regency was given to Polyperchon). She and Cassander were defeated by Polyperchon and Olympias; Olympias had Philip III executed and forced Eurydice to commit suicide.
A lovely, attractive coin, sharply struck on a broad flan. Good extremely fine.
Provenance: Numismatica Genevensis SA V, 2 December 2008, 76. Leu 72, 12 May 1998, 188.
Philip Arrhidaeus was a curious and tragic individual. He was the son of Philip II and his early wife Philinna, and was born c. 357 about the time of Philip's marriage to his far more dangerous wife Olympias, the mother of Alexander. He seems to have been mentally impaired, possibly through a birth defect or, and more luridly, through a poison administered by Olympias that had been meant to kill him. In any case, he was unfit to rule and so, while Philip II's eldest son, was passed over as heir to the kingdom in favor of Alexander. In fact, Alexander seems to have liked him and took him along on the long campaigns in Asia (in part, certainly, to prevent him from being used by his enemies). When Alexander died Arrhidaeus was in Babylon and was proclaimed king under the name Philip III (with provision for Alexander's wife Roxane's unborn child to be proclaimed joint-ruler if he proved male: which he did under the name Alexander IV). Philip III's 'rule' took place under a succession of regents, beginning with Perdiccas, followed by Antipater and Polyperchon. Philip III was married to Eurydice, daughter of his half-sister Cynane (who was murdered by order of Perdiccas): Eurydice had ambitions to actually rule through her husband and in order to do so allied herself with Cassander, the son of Antipater (he had expected to be made regent in succession to his father, but the regency was given to Polyperchon). She and Cassander were defeated by Polyperchon and Olympias; Olympias had Philip III executed and forced Eurydice to commit suicide.