Philip II of Macedon, Silver Tetradrachma

Philip II of Macedon, Silver Tetradrachma

Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BCE), Amphipolis Mint, struck ca. 323-315. Silver Tetradrachm.
OBVERSE: In dotted circle, bearded head of Zeus in profile facing right, crowned by laurel leaves.
REVERSE: In dotted circle, a nude youth on horse, holding a palm branch. Inscribed arching over youth and horse is "PHILIPPOY,” or “of Phillip.” Dolphin under belly of horse, letter "P" with dot under raised right fore-hoof; test cut through body of horse.

King Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BCE) was the father of Alexander the Great. He began his relatively short but incredibly successful rule with conquering much of northern Greece followed by Boeotia and Athens in the battle of Chaeroneia (338 BCE) making him the most powerful man in all of Greece. Just before waging a campaign to invade Persia, Philip was assassinated in 336 BCE.

Zeus is the god depicted on the OBVERSE of this coin. Philip held many games in honor of Zeus in the southern Macedonian border town of Dion at the foot Mt. Olympus. He also built a treasury temple called Philippeion in the sacred precinct of Zeus in Olympia on the Peloponnese. The REVERSE image is in celebration of an Olympic horse race victory Philip won in 356 BCE, the same year Alexander was born.

Gift of James and Aneta McIntyre, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR. 2006.010.011

359-336 BCE

Hallie Ford Museum of Art

2.190 cm
13.800 gr

Greek

Coin

Phillip of Macedon

This item is on view at Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Mark and Janeth Sponenburgh Gallery.