Macedonia, Philip II, Tetradrachm
c. 355-348 BC - Amphipolis - Silver - EF(40-45)
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Laureate, bearded head of Zeus on the right.
Bearded man (Philip II) on horseback walking to the left, wearing a kausia (flat hat), raising his right arm and holding the reins with his left hand.
This attractive tetradrachm is in great condition and beautifully adorned with a grayish-white patina! The pupil and iris of Zeus are clearly visible, as are the elements making up his ear. His beard is made up of thick curls, and his hair is composed of strands with a noticeable relief. The berries of his crown are no longer present, but the slight veins of the laurel leaves are still visible on some of them. The reverse is pleasantly well detailed. The features of Philip II's garment are well defined, and every drape and fold can be seen. The engraving is so fine that the few lines forming the hairs of his beard can also be seen. As for the horse, every detail of its anatomy is preserved. The hair on his tail and the hairs in his mane are perfectly visible. Every part of the head is well defined, and all the joints and muscles working under the strain of walking can be seen. The halter and reins are illustrated with fine lines, while the seal is decorated with partially faded dots on its border and a line surrounding and following them. The position of each element is not trivial. The horse's raised legs indicate movement, while its slightly raised tail adds dynamism to the composition. Philip II's raised arm symbolizes his role as leader. He is seated on his horse, wearing a kausia, his back straight: with his hand, he gives orders and guides his troops. The iconography of this scene corresponds perfectly to the period in which this coin was minted. At the beginning of his reign, he re-established the power of the Kingdom of Macedonia, conquering numerous cities and extending his influence over several regions. In particular, he took part in the Third Sacred War, from which he emerged more powerful than ever. During his reign, he overhauled and developed the cavalry. The iconography of our specimen is therefore strongly linked to the political context. The power and strength of Philip II are all the more pronounced as the obverse represents Zeus. He is the king of the gods, the most powerful of them all. He is consequently a strong symbol to which Philip II refers. The association of the two iconographies - obverse and reverse - is therefore a powerful witness and an effective means of propaganda to show Philip II's power, the favor he holds from the gods who make him victorious in his conquests, but also his will to impose his authority on the world. HGC 3.1, 861; PELLA Philip II 104 and SNG ANS 467. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΦΙΛΙΓ-ΓΟΥ / M or Σ between the forelegs of the horse
14.5 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “EF(40-45)” quality
As in numismatics it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
Extremely Fine
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins retains much of its mint luster, sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
