1. The Historical Context: The Rise of the Argead Star

When Philip II took the throne in 359 BC, Macedon was surrounded by enemies and fractured by internal strife. Through a combination of military innovation and diplomatic brilliance, he unified the kingdom and eventually brought all of Greece under his hegemony.

But Philip wasn’t just a warlord; he was a statesman who understood the power of prestige. In 356 BC, his horse won the race at the Olympic Games. In a world where only Greeks were allowed to compete, this victory was Philip’s “passport” into civilized society. He was so proud of this win that he featured the horse and rider on his coinage for the rest of his life, ensuring everyone knew that the King of Macedon was a true, Hellenic victor.

2. The Obverse: The Radiant Apollo

The obverse features the Diademed Head of Apollo, facing right.

• The God of Order: Apollo was the patron of the Pythian Games and the god of music, prophecy, and light. By placing Apollo on his bronze coinage, Philip was aligning himself with the most “civilized” of the Greek gods.
• The Pella Style: The mint at Pella was the artistic heart of the kingdom. Notice the fine, youthful features of Apollo—often rendered with a sharp, classical profile that rivals the work of the best engravers in Athens or Corinth.
• The Diadem: The simple headband (diadem) signifies Apollo’s divine status, but it also subtly mirrors the headbands worn by victorious athletes.

3. The Reverse: The Olympic Victor

The reverse features a youth on horseback, galloping to the right. Above or below the horse is the Greek legend ΦIΛIΠΠOY (Philippou — “Of Philip”).

• The Olympic Connection: The youth is often identified as the jockey who rode Philip’s horse to victory at Olympia. In the 4th century BC, it was the owner of the horse, not the rider, who received the crown. This coin is Philip’s permanent trophy.
• The Macedonian Cavalry: Beyond the Olympics, the image celebrates the “Hetairoi” (the Companion Cavalry), the elite noble horsemen who were the decisive “hammer” in Philip’s military tactics.
• The Legend: The name ΦIΛIΠΠOY was a bold statement. It was the first time a Macedonian king’s name appeared so prominently on such a massive scale of bronze currency.

4. Technical Details: The Pella Bronze

• SNG Copenhagen 585: Cataloged in the Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, the standard reference for Greek bronze issues.
• The Mint: Pella. As the birthplace of Alexander the Great and the administrative center of the kingdom, Pella produced some of the most high-quality bronze strikes of the era.
• The Metal: Bronze (AE). These were the essential “low-denomination” coins used for daily transactions.
• The Patina: Macedonian bronzes from Pella often develop a stunning, dark “forest green” or “chocolate brown” patina. Finding a specimen where the jockey’s arm or the horse’s individual muscles are still visible is a sign of a premier Philip II collection.

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At Numiscurio, we often say that a coin’s “soul” is found in its name; while the face on this coin is the same as Alexander’s, the legend tells the story of his half-brother, a man caught in the crossfire of the Diadochi (the Successors).

1. The Historical Context: The King Who Was Not There

When Alexander the Great died in Babylon in 323 BC, he left no clear heir. The Macedonian army proclaimed his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaios, as king. However, Philip III was reported to be mentally disabled, making him a perpetual pawn in the hands of Alexander’s ambitious generals.

This drachm was struck at Sardeis, the ancient Lydian capital and a strategic powerhouse in Asia Minor. During these four years, the city was under the control of Menander (and later Kleitos the White), who struck these coins in Philip’s name to pay the Macedonian veterans. It was a visual lie of stability: using the famous “Alexander-style” imagery to validate a king who was effectively a royal prisoner.

2. The Obverse: Herakles and the Argead Claim

The obverse features the Head of Herakles, facing right, wearing the Leonté (Nemean lion skin).

• The Bloodline: Like his father Philip II and his brother Alexander, Philip III used Herakles to assert his divine right to rule. Even as the empire was being carved up by generals like Ptolemy and Seleucus, the coinage insisted that the Argead bloodline remained supreme.
• The High Relief of Sardeis: The Sardeis mint was renowned for its artistic heritage (going back to Croesus). The engravers here treated the lion’s mane and the facial features of Herakles with a sculptural depth that is often superior to the more “mass-produced” coins of Babylon.

3. The Reverse: Zeus and the Royal Name

The reverse features Zeus Aëtophoros (the Eagle-Bearer) seated left on a high-backed throne, holding an eagle in his outstretched right hand and a long scepter in his left.

• The Legend: The Greek inscription reads ΦIΛIΠΠOY (Philippou — “Of Philip”). This is the key identifier for collectors. While the design is identical to Alexander’s coinage, the change in name marks the official shift in power after June 323 BC.
• The Sardeis Monogram: In the left field, there is a specific monogram (a combination of Greek letters). In Price’s catalog (P56), these marks help us identify the specific magistrate or workshop in Sardeis responsible for the purity and weight of the silver.
• The Throne Detail: Notice the legs of the throne; on well-preserved Sardeis strikes, you can see intricate carvings, a hallmark of the city’s luxury traditions.

4. Technical Details: The Post-Alexander Silver

• Price P56: Cataloged in Martin Price’s definitive work, The Coinage in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaios.
• The Mint: Sardeis. As one of the primary treasuries of the Persian Empire before Alexander conquered it, Sardeis remained a critical hub for the Diadochi wars.
• The Metal: Silver Drachm. This was the “daily wage” for a high-ranking soldier or a skilled artisan in the Hellenistic world.
• The Patina: These silver coins often develop a beautiful, iridescent “horn silver” or a dark, “cabinet” toning over centuries. Finding a specimen where the eagle’s wings or the letters of Philip’s name are still sharp is a major highlight for any specialist of the Successor period.

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1. The Historical Context: The Face of a Legend

When Alexander III took the throne at age 20, he didn’t just inherit a kingdom; he inherited the ambition to unite the East and West. This coin was part of his massive logistical effort to standardize the economy of his rapidly growing empire.

By depicting Herakles on the obverse, Alexander was doing more than honoring a god. The Argead royal house of Macedon claimed direct descent from Herakles himself. This coin served as a constant reminder to his subjects and his soldiers that their king wasn’t just a man—he was of the blood of the greatest hero in Greek mythology.

2. The Obverse: The Lion-Slayer

The obverse features the Head of Herakles, facing right, wearing the Leonté (the skin of the Nemean Lion).

• The Mask of Power: The lion’s scalp is pulled over Herakles’ head, with the paws tied beneath his chin. This imagery was so potent that for centuries after Alexander’s death, almost every Hellenistic king tried to mimic this “Herakles look” on their own coins.
• The Alexander “Selfie”: Interestingly, many numismatists believe that as Alexander’s reign progressed, the features of Herakles on the coins began to take on the actual facial characteristics of Alexander himself—a subtle way of blending the king with the god.

3. The Reverse: The Weapons of a Hero

The reverse features the signature “Tools of the Trade” for a Macedonian warrior: a Club positioned above a Quiver-over-Bow.

• The Club of Strength: This is the primary weapon of Herakles, representing raw, physical power.
• The Bow and Quiver: These symbolize the reach and precision of the Macedonian army. Alexander was a master of combined arms, and the bow was essential for the skirmishers and light infantry that supported the heavy phalanx.
• The Legend: Usually features the name ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Of Alexander), marking the coin as the official property of the king.

4. Technical Details: The Price Reference

• Price 301: Cataloged in Martin Price’s definitive work, The Coinage in the Name of Alexander the Great. This specific reference helps identify the precise minting style and period of the issue.
• The Metal: Bronze (AE). Unlike silver, which was valued for its weight, these bronze coins were “fiduciary,” meaning their value was backed by the authority of the King’s word.
• The Patina: These Macedonian bronzes are famous for their “bottle green” or deep, earthy “desert” patinas. Finding a specimen where the individual scales of the quiver or the teeth of the lion skin are still sharp is a highlight for any collector of the Hellenistic age.

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But look closer at Price 3501 (minted in Babylon). This coin was likely struck while Alexander was physically in the city, planning his next invasion, or in the immediate, chaotic months following his mysterious death in June 323 BC.

1. The Historical Context: The Center of the World

By 325 BC, Alexander had toppled the Persian Empire and was sitting in the ancient palaces of Babylon. He intended to make the city the capital of his new, unified world.

To pay his restless veterans and fund his upcoming Arabian campaign, the Babylon mint worked at a feverish pace. Price 3501 is a “Lifetime” or “Early Posthumous” issue—meaning it was either touched by the men who served under Alexander or was used to pay the generals who would soon tear his empire apart.

2. The Obverse: The Lion-Skin of Herakles

The obverse features the head of Herakles (Hercules), the greatest hero of Greek myth, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion.

• The Divine Ancestry: Alexander claimed to be a direct descendant of Herakles. By putting the hero on the coin, he was subtly telling the world: “I am not just a king; I am a living myth.”
• The “Alexander” Portrait: While the face is technically Herakles, most historians agree that over time, the features began to resemble Alexander himself—the deep-set eyes, the flowing hair, and the strong, youthful jaw. It was the birth of the “personality cult” in numismatics.

3. The Reverse: Zeus and the “Babylonian” Style

The reverse depicts Zeus Aëtophoros (the Eagle-Bearer) enthroned, holding a scepter.

• The Legend: ALEXANDROU (Of Alexander).
• The Babylon Mint Marks: Specifically for Price 3501, you will find a monogram (like a combined M and Y) and a bee or a symbol in the left field. These were the “secret signatures” of the Babylonian mint masters.
• The Symbolism: Zeus was the “King of the Gods,” mirroring Alexander’s role as the “King of Kings.” For the conquered Persians, Zeus looked enough like their own god, Ahura Mazda, that the coin was accepted without question—a brilliant piece of multicultural marketing.

4. Technical Details: The “Price” Reference

• Price 3501: This refers to Martin Price’s monumental work, The Coinage in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. Price identified over 4,000 variants; 3501 is prized for its high-relief, powerful “Babylonian Style” engraving.
• The High Purity: These tetradrachms were struck in nearly pure silver (around 17.2 grams). They were so trusted that they continued to be minted for 250 years after Alexander died.

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