Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AR tetradrachm (26mm, 14.34 gm, 5h). Pella, time of Philip III-Cassander, ca. 323/2-316/5 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, rendered in exceptional style / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, jockey, holding palm branch, riding a horse walking to right; below horse, vertical thunderbolt. Le Rider 515 (D273/R424). An almost perfect specimen, struck in high relief from fresh dies of exceptional style. NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. From The California Collection. Ex Heritage 3020 (Long Beach, 6 September 2012), lot 24883; Nomos AG 3 (10 May 2011), lot 55. In 356 BC, Philip won control of Thessaly and the victory of his race horse in the Olympic games earned him more prestige. A blunt, hard-drinking and uncultured man, Philip was beloved by his soldiers and detested by the elite of most Greek cities, particularly Athens. In 338 BC he crushed a combined Athenian-Theban army at Chaeronea, making him effective master of all Greece. His ultimate aim was to lead a united Greek army against the Persian Empire, but his assassination in 336 BC left the task to his charismatic son, Alexander III. His coinage in gold and silver was immense and coins continued to be minted with his name and types long after his death. This beautiful silver tetradrachm, struck circa 322-320 BC, bears a superb head of Zeus that appears to be modeled on the features of Philip himself, while the victorious race horse and rider recall Philip's successes at the Olympics.
Estimate: 6000-8500 USD
MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AR tetradrachm (26mm, 14.34 gm, 5h). Pella, time of Philip III-Cassander, ca. 323/2-316/5 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, rendered in exceptional style / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, jockey, holding palm branch, riding a horse walking to right; below horse, vertical thunderbolt. Le Rider 515 (D273/R424). An almost perfect specimen, struck in high relief from fresh dies of exceptional style. NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. From The California Collection. Ex Heritage 3020 (Long Beach, 6 September 2012), lot 24883; Nomos AG 3 (10 May 2011), lot 55. In 356 BC, Philip won control of Thessaly and the victory of his race horse in the Olympic games earned him more prestige. A blunt, hard-drinking and uncultured man, Philip was beloved by his soldiers and detested by the elite of most Greek cities, particularly Athens. In 338 BC he crushed a combined Athenian-Theban army at Chaeronea, making him effective master of all Greece. His ultimate aim was to lead a united Greek army against the Persian Empire, but his assassination in 336 BC left the task to his charismatic son, Alexander III. His coinage in gold and silver was immense and coins continued to be minted with his name and types long after his death. This beautiful silver tetradrachm, struck circa 322-320 BC, bears a superb head of Zeus that appears to be modeled on the features of Philip himself, while the victorious race horse and rider recall Philip's successes at the Olympics.
Estimate: 6000-8500 USD