Macedon. Philip II. Pella. 348-342 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.31g, 12h). Le Rider 165; MAST 96 (this coin). Old cabinet tone. Artistic dies. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Tradart 1999 (9) lot 33; Frank Sternberg 1988 (21) lot 73

"Philip took care to have his victories at Olympia engraved upon his coins " (Plutarch 4.9). Coins were frequently used to advertise victories at Olympia and other games. Philip II thus displayed his synoris (two-horse chariot race) victories on gold staters, and his keles (horseback race) victories on silver tetradrachms. Added to the Olympic program in 648 BC, the keles seems to have covered a distance of six stadia (approximately 1.2km). It was a double triumph for Philip... he not only won the race but, more importantly, he had been admitted to the games as a true Greek; indeed a barbarian as many enemies called him, was note eligible.