Watch List notes:

KINGS OF MACEDON. Philip V, 221-179 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 17.07 g, 12 h), Amphipolis, c. 188-183. Head of Philip V left, as the hero Perseus, lightly bearded and with a harpa over his right shoulder, wearing a winged helmet adorned with a griffin as a crest; all within the tondo of a Macedonia shield ornamented with seven stars of eight rays, each within a double crescent, around the edge. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Club to right; above, monogram of ΑΡ; below, monograms of ΣΙ and ΤΗ; all within oak wreath tied at the left; to left of the ties, small club upwards. Mamroth, Philip -. SNG ABC 1052. Tkalec, 1994, 83 (same dies). Rare. A spectacular example, with a superb Hellenistic portrait of the highest quality, very well- and sharply-struck. Good extremely fine.
Bought privately from a European collector who had acquired it in the early 1990s.

The portrait of Philip V on this coin is of outstanding elegance and force. One could not imagine it being any better! Depicting the king wearing the helmet of Perseus, topped by its fierce griffin, and with the hero's sword - the harpa - over his shoulder, placed him in the same class: Perseus slew Medusa and Philip was a bulwark against the Romans (even though he was defeated by them). It is well worth noting that this helmet was also worn by Roma on many of the Republic's roughly contemporary denarii.