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Drachm - Philip III Arrhidaios Abydos
| Issuer | Kingdom of Macedonia |
|---|---|
| Year | 323 BC - 317 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 16.0 mm |
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| Obverse description | Head of Herakles facing right, depicted wearing the Nemean lion scalp headdress with the jaws framing his face and the paws knotted at his neck. The portrait is rendered in fine high relief in the Hellenistic tradition, with curling locks of hair visible beneath the scalp. The facial features are strong and idealized, consistent with Alexandrine coinage types. The field is plain, with no legend on the obverse. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Philip III Arrhidaios was the half-brother of Alexander the Great — intellectually disabled, possibly from a poisoning attempt in childhood, and entirely a figurehead king manipulated by the generals who carved up Alexander's empire after 323 BC. The Abydos mint, positioned at the strategically vital Hellespont crossing, continued striking in Alexander's name and types under the new regime, lending legitimacy through numismatic continuity even as the Diadochi tore the kingdom apart.
Philip III was murdered by Olympias in 317 BC, ending his six-year nominal reign.