KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip II – Alexander III. Circa 340/36-328 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.54 g, 2h). In the name and types of Philip II. Pella mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / ΦIΛIΠΠOY, charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; below, trident right. Le Rider Group II.1, 314 (D91/R241); SNG ANS 144–54. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232251-003, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.
Between 357 and 348 BC, Philip II, the dynamic king of Macedon, conquered the previously independent cities of the Calkidike and gained total control of the gold mines of Mount Pangaion near the city of Amphipolis. This windfall enabled Philip to begin striking a regular coinage in gold, something unique in the Greek world. The allure of gold, in turn, drew thousands of Greek warriors into Macedon’s service and made Philip’s already powerful army nigh invincible. Philip’s gold staters, bearing a youthful head of Apollo on the obverse and a racing biga on the reverse, become so popular and ubiquitous that “Philip” became the term for any gold coin in the Greek world. They continued in production for many decades after Philip’s death in 336 BC and even beyond the reign of his son and heir, Alexander III “the Great.”
