Greece Kingdom of Macedon 323-317 BC AV Stater Philip III NGC Ancients MS
The Kingdom of Macedon’s gold stater, struck between 323 and 317 BC under Philip III Arrhidaeus, weighs a precise 8.45 grams and exemplifies the enduring Attic standard inherited from Philip II. Minted in the chaotic interregnum following Alexander the Great’s death, these coins circulated from the Aegean to the Indus, serving as both currency and propaganda for a fragile dynasty. Graded MS by NGC Ancients, this specimen preserves sharp details that reveal the die-engraver’s mastery, with metal flowing cleanly into every incuse.
On the obverse, Athena appears in profile, her Corinthian helmet pushed back to expose curling locks and a determined gaze. The crest terminates in a coiled serpent, while the bowl is adorned with a delicate griffin—symbols tying Macedonian royal authority to divine protection
The reverse showcases Nike striding forward, wings spread in triumphant ascent, holding a wreath in her extended right hand and a naval stylus in her left—a dual emblem of victory on land and sea. Microscopic die polish and centrifugal striking marks remain visible, testifying to the coin’s untouched journey through twenty-three centuries.
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