Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 463 11 Mar 2020
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KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.50 g, 7h). Babylon mint. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, facing head of Helios with tiny T above; KY below throne. Price P205 var. (no T on rev.). Toned, some roughness, small scratches. Good VF. Very rare.
The tiny T is known on a handful of tetradrachms on the market since the 1990's, though no catalogers had noted the feature before. This appears to be a Philip-named issue that complements the known issue in the name of Alexander where a T appears below the head of Helios, Price 3698. Interestingly, there is also an issue with an N above the head, which is apparently the tetradrachm with the same markings as the stater of Price P204. What is surprising is that there has been an example of this tetradrachm in Berlin (obj. no. 18203004) since 1906, but it was not recognized by N. Waggoner in her die study of the Babylon mint, nor by Price. A few other examples of that issue have also appeared recently on the market.
The tiny T is known on a handful of tetradrachms on the market since the 1990's, though no catalogers had noted the feature before. This appears to be a Philip-named issue that complements the known issue in the name of Alexander where a T appears below the head of Helios, Price 3698. Interestingly, there is also an issue with an N above the head, which is apparently the tetradrachm with the same markings as the stater of Price P204. What is surprising is that there has been an example of this tetradrachm in Berlin (obj. no. 18203004) since 1906, but it was not recognized by N. Waggoner in her die study of the Babylon mint, nor by Price. A few other examples of that issue have also appeared recently on the market.