31030: MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-3

MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC). AV stater (19mm, 8.61 gm, 1h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Lifetime issue of Babylon, ca. 323-317. Head of Athena right, hair falling loose below and upswept at temple, wearing necklace and triple-crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, long parallel crest ends, the bowl decorated with coiled serpent right / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ / Β-ΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, Nike advancing left, wreath upward in right hand, stylis cradled in left arm; ΛΥ above M below wing in left field. Price -, cf. P180 (M in outer left field). The officials represented by ΛY and M were responsible for the first issues of Babylon immediately following Alexander's death, signing coinage in both gold and silver. It is precisely at this point that the mint changes the name from Alexander to Philip for both gold and silver and this issue is among the first with Philip's name on staters. When Martin Price compiled his catalog, he was unaware of this particular variety. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved