ANCIENT GREEK MACEDON AR Tetrobol Philip II 359-336 BC Silver Apollo Horse Ride

Item Description

Ancient Kingdom of Macedon – King Philip II (359–336 BC)

Silver Tetrobol (51 Tetradrachm) — Apollo & Olympic Horse Rider

Provenance: Ex Golding Young & Mawer

Up for auction/sale is an authentic, historic silver fractional coin struck during the reign of King Philip II of Macedon (the legendary reformer of the Macedonian phalanx and father of Alexander the Great), or by his immediate successors in his name.

Provenance Note: This piece was originally acquired through the established UK regional auction house Golding Young & Mawer.

Coin Design & Attribution

• Obverse : Head of a youthful Apollo facing right, bound with a plain taenia (fillet/headband) or highly stylized laurel wreath. Deep, expressive northern Greek style.

• Reverse (: Naked youth (jockey) riding a spirited horse prancing right. The Greek legend ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ (PHILIPPOU – "Of Philip") is partially visible along the upper edge, with the initial letters ΦΙΛ clear at the top left.

• Historical Significance: The reverse directly commemorates King Philip II’s celebrated victory in the single-horse race at the Olympic Games of 356 BC—a triumph he used widely across his coinage to proclaim his Greek heritage to the rest of the Mediterranean world.

Physical Specifications

• Weight: 2.27 grams

• Diameter: 13 mm

• Metal: Silver (AR)

Condition & Numismatic Remarks

• Surfaces: This piece features deep, honest circulation wear combined with a distinctly porous, grainy surface texture across both fields. This characteristic environmental pitting is fully typical of silver fractions that spent centuries securely buried in acidic or damp soil before recovery.

• Strike: Exceptionally well-centered for a compact 13mm flan, keeping Apollo's full facial profile cleanly on the metal. The reverse maintains a strong, recognisable horse and rider module with clear legend remnants.