Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.46 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Babylon, ca. 323-318/7 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl ornamented with coiled serpent / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ΛY below left wing, M below right wing. Price P178. Lustrous.
Born ca. 359 BC, Arrhidaeus was the illegitimate son of Philip II, king of Macedon, by a Thessalian dancer. According to Plutarch, a poisoning attempt by Philip's jealous wife Olympias left Arrhidaeus mentally retarded and subject to epileptic fits. When Alexander the Great died in Babylon in June, 323 BC, a council of generals met and determined that Arrhidaeus would be crowned as Philip III, and would reign jointly with the infant Alexander IV. However, neither had any real power, this being held by a succession of Macedonian generals. The new king proved as compliant and simple-minded as the generals had hoped, but in 320 BC, Arrhidaeus married a niece of Philip II's, Eurydice, who had more than enough ambition for the both of them. In 317 BC, she threw her support behind Cassander's successful bid to replace Polyperchon as regent. Cassander, in turn, left her and Arrhidaeus in charge of Macedon while he went on campaign in Asia. Polyperchon joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias and invaded Macedon. Eurydice and Arrhidaeus raised an army to oppose them, but their soldiers refused to fight. Arrhidaeus and Eurydice were captured; Olympias ordered Arrhidaeus to be executed and compelled Eurydice to commit suicide.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AV stater (18mm, 8.46 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Babylon, ca. 323-318/7 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl ornamented with coiled serpent / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ΛY below left wing, M below right wing. Price P178. Lustrous.
Born ca. 359 BC, Arrhidaeus was the illegitimate son of Philip II, king of Macedon, by a Thessalian dancer. According to Plutarch, a poisoning attempt by Philip's jealous wife Olympias left Arrhidaeus mentally retarded and subject to epileptic fits. When Alexander the Great died in Babylon in June, 323 BC, a council of generals met and determined that Arrhidaeus would be crowned as Philip III, and would reign jointly with the infant Alexander IV. However, neither had any real power, this being held by a succession of Macedonian generals. The new king proved as compliant and simple-minded as the generals had hoped, but in 320 BC, Arrhidaeus married a niece of Philip II's, Eurydice, who had more than enough ambition for the both of them. In 317 BC, she threw her support behind Cassander's successful bid to replace Polyperchon as regent. Cassander, in turn, left her and Arrhidaeus in charge of Macedon while he went on campaign in Asia. Polyperchon joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias and invaded Macedon. Eurydice and Arrhidaeus raised an army to oppose them, but their soldiers refused to fight. Arrhidaeus and Eurydice were captured; Olympias ordered Arrhidaeus to be executed and compelled Eurydice to commit suicide.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD