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| Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann) > Auction 168 | Auction date: 7 June 2026 |
| Lot number: 51 Price realized: 5,750 EUR (Approx. 6,647 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Greek Coins KINGS OF MACEDON. Philip II (359-336 BC). Tetradrachm. Amphipolis. Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev: ΦIΛIΠΠOY. Youth, holding palm frond, on horseback right; aphlaston below, pellet in Π below raised foreleg. Le Rider pl. 46, 18; SNG ANS 738-46. The coin issues of Philip II helped to establish a visual language recognizable throughout the Greek world. The image of the knight is not merely a decorative motif: it represents the Macedonian nobility, its warrior tradition, and the central role of the cavalry in the establishment of monarchical power. Under Philip II, this theme took on an even stronger political significance. His coins depict a dynamic horseman advancing resolutely: a way to celebrate his military victories, the reform of the army, and Macedonian supremacy in Greece. The iconography thus became a true tool of propaganda, capable of spreading the image of a victorious, legitimate ruler protected by the gods. The horseman represented not only the king but the entire Macedonian ethos, founded on strength, discipline, and aristocratic prestige. The obverse of the tetradrachms features the bearded head of Zeus, rendered in this example with an extraordinarily solemn and authoritative style. This choice was no accident: Zeus was the patron god of the Argead dynasty, and Philip presented himself as his favorite, legitimized to rule. Philip's coins circulated widely, becoming "international" currencies given the Macedonian Empire's hegemony; they were characterized by reliable weight and fineness, and were imitated for centuries after the king's death. His coins also influenced those of his successor, Alexander the Great, who adopted their propaganda logic despite changing the types. In a sense, these coins serve as a bridge between "regional" and "imperial" Macedon. Condition: Extremely fine. Weight: 14.45 g. Diameter: 23 mm. https://videos.files.wordpress.com/2RFlJBJv/a168_192377.mp4 Estimate: 1000 EUR |  |
