Lot 1029
Macedonian Kingdom. Philip II. Silver Tetradrachm (14.14 g), 359-336 BC. Pella, lifetime issue, ca. 354/3-349/8 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right. Reverse: ΦIΛIΠ-ΠOY, king on horseback left, wearing kausia and extending arm; below raised foreleg, Δ; below belly, radiate head of Helios facing. Le Rider 137a (D79/R109) = Kraay-Hirmer 562 = Burton Y. Berry, A Numismatic Biography (1971), p. 22, 51 = Robin Lane Fox, The Search for Alexander (1980), p. 51, illus. (this coin). Boldly struck in high relief with a wonderful old cabinet tone. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $3,000 - UP
From the Lee Rousseau Collection; Ex Orme Lewis Sr. / Phoenix Art Museum Collection (Triton II, 2 December 1998), 310; NFA XVIII (1 April 1987), 104; Bank Leu 13 (29 April 1975), 118; Hess-Leu (24 March 1959), 160.
The tetradrachms of Philip II were struck in large quantities thanks to his control of the important mines of Mount Pangaion after 354 BC. The coins enjoyed a wide popularity even beyond the borders of the Macedonian kingdom and provided the model for the imitative coinages of the Danubian Celts. The obverse features the head of Olympian Zeus, the chief god of the Macedonians while the reverse depicts a Macedonian rider wearing a kausia - the national Macedonian hat similar to the petasos. His bearded face and what may be the trailing end of a diadem behind his head indicate that he is none other than the king himself.
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| Realized $9,900 |
