Phillip II

Denomination:  Greek Bronze                          

Date:  359-336 BCE

The reign of Phillip II, father of Alexander the Great, marked a major turning point in the history of the Greek world.  His plan was to make himself master of Greece and then undertake the conquest of the traditional enemy of the Greeks, the Persian Empire.  The first part of his ambition was achieved, but the assassin’s hand struck down the king before he was able to begin his attack on Acheamenid territory.  In order to finance his military operations Philip instituted a large-scale coinage of gold, silver and bronze denominations.  
Phillip was said to be obsessed with youth, and hence, features the image of a jockey on horseback, a reference to his equestrian victory as a young boy at the Olympian games of 356 BC.  On the other side of the coin is Apollo, who was the god of youth and music.