Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3044 3-4 January 2016
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AV stater (19mm, 8.55 gm, 12h). Magnesia ad Meandrum, ca. 323-319 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right, with the features of Alexander III the Great / Charioteer driving galloping biga to right, holding the reins in his left hand and a goad with his right; below right, thyrsus, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in exergue. With an attractive portrait of the great conqueror. Well-struck and lustrous. NGC AU 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. While the types of this gold stater issue of Magnesia conform to the norm for Philip II (359-336 BC), the magnificent obverse die of this late posthumous issue of Magnesia bears a portrait of "Apollo" that is quite distinctive and clearly depicts a real person. Coins struck from the same or almost identical obverse dies during the same period have also been attributed to Colophon. Comparison with the coins of Lysimachus and surviving portrait sculpture leaves no doubt the portrait 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.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AV stater (19mm, 8.55 gm, 12h). Magnesia ad Meandrum, ca. 323-319 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right, with the features of Alexander III the Great / Charioteer driving galloping biga to right, holding the reins in his left hand and a goad with his right; below right, thyrsus, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in exergue. With an attractive portrait of the great conqueror. Well-struck and lustrous. NGC AU 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. While the types of this gold stater issue of Magnesia conform to the norm for Philip II (359-336 BC), the magnificent obverse die of this late posthumous issue of Magnesia bears a portrait of "Apollo" that is quite distinctive and clearly depicts a real person. Coins struck from the same or almost identical obverse dies during the same period have also been attributed to Colophon. Comparison with the coins of Lysimachus and surviving portrait sculpture leaves no doubt the portrait 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.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD