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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Theodosius, post: 2754435, member: 77077&quot;]While attributing this Greek Drachm I started digging into the significance of some of the symbols on it and discovered an interesting connection.&nbsp; It reminded me how the smallest symbol on an ancient coin can be loaded with meaning and history.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]631609[/ATTACH]</p><p>Philip III Arrhidaeus</p><p>AR Drachm, 323 - 317 BC. Abydos mint.</p><p>Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing a lion&#039;s skin.</p><p>Reverse: ΦIΛIΠΠOΥ, Zeus seated left holding eagle and staff; eight pointed star (Vergina Sun) and MO monogram under throne, horse’s leg to left of throne.</p><p>References: M. Thompson. Alexander&#039;s Mints II: Lampsacus and Abydus. ANSNS 19 (1991), series VIII, 124; Price P18 var; ADM II 114</p><p><br /></p><p>This drachm was minted for Philip III, Alexander’s older half brother, who was reputed to have been somewhat learning disabled.&nbsp; Looking at the symbols on the coin, I noticed a horse’s leg next to the throne, the mint symbol for Abydos.&nbsp; There is also an MO monogram, which appears on coins from multiple mints, not sure what this means.</p><p><br /></p><p>I also noticed a small 8 pointed star under the throne. A little digging shows this is the “Vergina Sun” or “Argead Star”.&nbsp; This is the royal symbol of the Argead dynasty of Macedon, the dynasty which included Philip II, Alexander III (the Great), and the honoree of the current coin, Philip III. The star is usually shown as a 16, 12, 8 or rarely 6 pointed star with triangle shaped rays.</p><p><br /></p><p>The symbol represents the Sun god (Helios), who was the patron deity of the Argead dynasty based on the legend about Perdiccas I of Macedon as told by Herodotus. Early representations go back to at least the 6th century BC, with hoplites depicted as bearing sixteen-pointed and eight-pointed sunburst symbols on their shields and armor, and the same symbols being represented on coins from both island and mainland Greece from at least the 5th century BC (paraphrased from Wikipedia).</p><p><br /></p><p>There are many interesting uses of the Vergina Sun on ancient art and coins over a long period of time.</p><p><br /></p><p>This 6th century vase from the Vatican museum shows Achilles and Ajax playing a board game.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]631613[/ATTACH] </p><p><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Akhilleus_Aias_MGEt_16757.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Akhilleus_Aias_MGEt_16757.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Akhilleus_Aias_MGEt_16757.jpg</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Golden Larnax of Philip II of Macedon has a large Vergina Sun on the top (Archaeological Museum of Vergina). This large golden box is believed to contain the bones of Philip II, found in the small town of Vergina in Macedon.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]631614[/ATTACH] </p><p><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Image_larnax_of_philip.jpg?download" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Image_larnax_of_philip.jpg?download" rel="nofollow">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Image_larnax_of_philip.jpg?download</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Post your coins with the Vergina Sun, and tell me what “MO” stands for.</p><p><br /></p><p>John[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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