Obverse: The Head of Herakles Wearing the Skin
of the Nimean Lion
Reverse: Zeus Enthroned Facing Left Holding an
Eagle and a Scepter
Historically, Arrhidaeus, bastard child of King
Philip II, is best known as one of the half-
brothers of Alexander the Great. Yet while his
brother rose to glory, carving out one of the
largest empires the world has ever known,
Arrhidaeus has vanished into obscurity. Ancient
texts convey the fact that Arrhiaeus was mentally
impaired. Although this might have been due to
natural causes, effective from birth, some
contrary rumors were circulated. Legend has it
that Olympias, the mother of Alexander,
attempted to poison Arrhidaeus so that her child
would be first in line for the throne. This would
both be in keeping with her malicious, meddling
character and explain any mental disorders.
Regardless of this story’s credibility, there are
many other tales where Olympias manipulated
Alexander to act out against his brother.
Needless to say, these instances often were more
beneficial to Olympias herself than her son.
However, upon the death of Alexander the Great,
Arrhidaeus was proclaimed king and assumed
the title of Philip III. Although he ruled for six
year (323-317 B.C.) until his death, he was king
in little more than name.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have
the coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who touched the coin before us, or where the
coin will venture to after us. More than money,
coins are a symbol of the state that struck them,
of a specific time and place, whether currency in
the age we live or an artifact of a long forgotten
empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals
an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate
sculptural detail that is often lacking in
contemporary machine-made currencies.
Although the empire of Alexander soon dissolved
after his death due to internal struggles and
inept leadership, his successors adopted much of
his iconography, demonstrated by this coin, in
order to legitimize their claims to power. This
coin is an ancient memorial to a forgotten king
passed down from the hands of generation to
generation, from civilization to civilization.
