Watch List notes:

GREEK COINS
Kings of Macedon

Philip II. 359-336 BC. Stater (Gold, 18mm, 8.64 g 1), Kolophon, struck under Philip III, BC 323-317, but probably before 319. Laureate head of Apollo to right, but with individualistic features. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Charioteer driving chariot drawn by two rearing horses to right, holding reins in his left hand and goad in his right; below right, tripod. Le Rider pls. 90, 16 and 93, 26. SNG Alpha Bank 260. Thompson Philip p. 58 and pl. VI, 12. Rare and toned. Minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a northern European collection, ex LHS 103, 2 May 2009, 72 and Bank Leu 20, 25 April 1978, 73.

This issue was produced during the short reign of Philip III Arrhidaios and has a most unusual head of 'Apollo.' The head on this coin is clearly that of a real person, not just an ideal head designed to represent Apollo; the features are very distinctive, almost as much as those on an issue struck in both Kolophon and Magnesia that has long been identified as a head of Alexander III himself. Why this should have happened when and where it did is unknown, but there must have been local reasons behind the use of such special heads on these coins. It should be noted that in LHS 103 this coin was dated to c. 290-285, but no explanation was given for such an unexpected date; in fact it was a misprint.