Remarkable Kolophon/Abydos Obverse Die

CNG 91, Lot: 139. Estimate $7500. Sold for $7008. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.61 g, 7h). In the types of Philip II. Kolophon mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319 BC. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / ΦIΛIΠΠOY, charioteer, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving biga right; tripod below. Thompson, Philip 12 var. (obv. portrait style); Le Rider pl. 90, 16 and pl. 93, 26 var. (same); SNG ANS 309 var. (same); CNG 81, lot 289 (same dies). Superb EF, fully lustrous. Very rare with ‘normal’ style Apollo portrait.

This issue typically has an Apollo with the ‘features of Alexander III’ (see the previous lot), but the present coin has a portrait that is an idealized representation of the deity that is normally found on the staters of Philip II type. Also intriguing is the fact that the obverse die used to strike this coin was also used on staters of Abydos (cf. ADM II 126b = SNG ANS 304).