Philip II 359-336 BC, silver posthumous Tetradrachm, Amphipolis mint.

Kings of Macedon, Philip II (359-336 BC), silver posthumous Tetradrachm, Amphipolis mint. Struck under Kassander, circa 314-310 BC, laureate head of Zeus right, rev. ΦIΛIΠΠOY, youth, holding palm and reins, on horseback right; below, Λ above bucranium; monogram below raised foreleg, 14.62g 11h (SNG ANS 772.0). Good very fine.

Philip II of Macedon was King of Macedon from 359 to 336 BC and was the father of Alexander the Great. During his reign, Philip transformed Macedonia into a powerful military and political state. He reorganised and strengthened the Macedonian army, developing the famous Macedonian phalanx and using never seen before tactics and siege weapons. Philip expanded Macedonian territory through successful military campaigns and gradually increased his influence over the Greek city states. His greatest achievement was his victory over Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, which allowed him to establish Macedonian dominance over much of Greece. Philip then planned an invasion of the Persian Empire, but he was assassinated in 336 BC before he could begin the campaign. His achievements created the strong kingdom and army that allowed his son, Alexander the Great, to conquer the Persian Empire and build one of the largest empires of the ancient world.

The reverse legend ΦIΛIΠΠOY translates to "Of Philip"