Lot 1861

Description

Macedon, Kingdom of, Philip III Arrhidaios, (336-323 B.C.), gold stater, (8.56 g), Babylon Mint, issued 323-318/7 B.C. under Archon, Dokimos or Seleukos I, obv. head of Athena to right in crested Corinthian helmet, rev. Nike standing to left, holding wreath in outstretched hand, **DI* below left wing, **BA SILEWS* to left, to right **ALEXANDP[OU]*, (cf.S.6702, unpublished, but same obverse die as St. James 38, lot 43, an example of Price 3994 corr. (monogram). Some mint bloom, good very fine and apparently unique.

Ex Anthony (Tony) Taylor Collection.^CNG Auction 401, lot 21.^^The style of this and the St. James coin, as well as the BM example of Price 3994 (BM 1841,B.704), are identical to the engraver of many of the Philip III "wheel" staters of Price P187-P201. This style re-emerges with the first issues of Seleukos I in 311 BC (cf. Price 3749-50), which suggests that these coins were likely struck by engravers who fled Babylon during the occupation of the region by Antigonos I Monophthalmos, and then returned when Seleukos I recaptured the city. Previously, there were no known issues in the name of Alexander that were struck concurrent to the wheel Philips. (per CNG)^^