Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AR tetradrachm (26mm, 17.15 gm, 8h). Babylon, ca. 323-317 BC. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion-skin headdress / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; in left field, radiate head of Helios facing; KY under throne. Price P205. NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style.From The California Collection.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 Arrhideus mentally retarded and subject to epileptic fits. When Alexander died in Babylon in June, 323 BC, the army split into rival factions. A council of generals hammered out a compromise by which Arrhidaeus would be crowned as Philip III, and would reign jointly with the infant Alexander IV. However, true power was held by a succession of regents. 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 involved herself fully in the deadly politics of the Diadochi. In 317 BC, she threw her support behind Cassander's successful bid to replace Polyperchon as regent. Cassander left Eurydice and Arrhidaeus in charge of Macedon while he went on campaign in Asia. Polyperchon joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias and invaded Macedon. Arrhidaeus and Eurydice were captured and executed on the orders of Olympias, sending the Wars of the Diadochi into a new, brutal phase.
Estimate: 1000-1400 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AR tetradrachm (26mm, 17.15 gm, 8h). Babylon, ca. 323-317 BC. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion-skin headdress / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; in left field, radiate head of Helios facing; KY under throne. Price P205. NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style.From The California Collection.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 Arrhideus mentally retarded and subject to epileptic fits. When Alexander died in Babylon in June, 323 BC, the army split into rival factions. A council of generals hammered out a compromise by which Arrhidaeus would be crowned as Philip III, and would reign jointly with the infant Alexander IV. However, true power was held by a succession of regents. 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 involved herself fully in the deadly politics of the Diadochi. In 317 BC, she threw her support behind Cassander's successful bid to replace Polyperchon as regent. Cassander left Eurydice and Arrhidaeus in charge of Macedon while he went on campaign in Asia. Polyperchon joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias and invaded Macedon. Arrhidaeus and Eurydice were captured and executed on the orders of Olympias, sending the Wars of the Diadochi into a new, brutal phase.
Estimate: 1000-1400 USD