Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II. AE Unit, 359-336 BC

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II. AE Unit, 359-336 BC

Obverse: Head of Apollo right, hair bound with tainia

Reverse: Youth on horseback right, raising right hand; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ above

Specs: AE, 18mm, 6.6g — right in the standard 6-7g range for this type

Details

This is the standard bronze unit Philip II struck for general circulation. The youth is sometimes called a “jockey” or just “horseman,” and he’s holding the reins with his left hand while saluting or holding a palm branch with his right. The ethnic ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ = “of Philip” runs above the horse.