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| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3132 | Auction date: 29 April 2026 |
| Lot number: 31002 Price realized: 24,000 USD (Approx. 20,510 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AV stater (17mm, 8.60 gm, 11h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style, brushed. Late posthumous issue, Colophon, under Philip III Arrhidaeus, ca. 322 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, with features of Alexander III the Great / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, charioteer driving galloping biga right, reins in left hand, kentron in right; tripod below at right. Le Rider 265, 16 and pl. 90, 16. SNG Alpha Bank 260. Thompson Philip p. 58 and pl. VI, 12. SNG ANS 309. Here Apollo has the piercing gaze, hairstyle and facial features often found on Alexander's deified portraits under Lysimachus as well as on the famed Azara Herm in the Louvre. A stunning example of numismatic portraiture. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3121 (13 January 2025), lot 33006; Hirsch, Auction 309 (7 May 2015), lot 98. While the types of this gold stater issue of Colophon conform to the norm for Philip II (359-336 BC), the magnificent obverse die of this late posthumous issue of Colophon bears a portrait of "Apollo" that is quite distinctive and clearly depicts a real person. Comparison with the coins of Lysimachus and surviving portrait sculpture leaves no doubt the image represents Alexander III the Great himself. The issue seems intended to legitimize the patchwork Macedonian regime put together by Alexander's generals after his death in Babylon under the figurehead rulers Philip III Arrhidaeus, Alexander's half-brother, and the infant Alexander IV, his posthumously born son. As such the "Philip" named on the reverse should probably be seen as referring to Arrhidaeus rather than the traditional attribution to Philip II. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/greek-macedonian-kingdom-philip-ii-359-336-bc-av-stater-17mm-860-gm-11h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5-fine-style-brush/a/3132-31002.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3132-04292026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 6955982002 Estimate: 20000-25000 USD |  |
