Important New Die Link

CNG 88, Lot: 149. Estimate $1000. Sold for $5055. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Quarter Stater (11mm, 2.17 g, 6h). In the types of Philip II. Pella mint. Struck under Antipater or Polyperchon, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Bow and club; above, bee right; [A below]. Le Rider 131 (D44/R- [unlisted rev. die, obv. die not listed for issue]); SNG ANS 237. Good VF.

In the quarter staters of Philip II type from Pella, obverse die 44 belongs to Le Rider Pella Group II fractions, which is generally dated to the period circa 340/36-328 BC. After Group II was issued, it has been accepted that there was a break in striking of Philip II coinage until the accession of Philip III in 323 BC, at which time the Group III fractions were struck. The present coin is the first known instance of a Group III coin (with Bee and A control marks) struck with a die used in Group II. This discovery throws into question the dating of the respective groups, unless the mint stored the die for 5 years, an event that, in this particular case, seems unlikely. It is more likely that the massive Group II coinage was not discontinued in 328 BC, but continued to be struck, perhaps sporadically, down to 323 BC (see Le Rider, Monnayage p. 72).