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Philippeioi

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Also known as Alexanders

Philippeioi (, Philíppeioi), later called Alexanders (Ἀλέξανδροι, Aléxandroi), were the gold coins used in the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. First issued at some point between 355 and 347 BC, the coins featured a portrait of the Greek deity Apollo on the obverse, and on the reverse, an illustration of a biga, a Greek chariot drawn by two horses. They had the value of one gold stater each. In the first issuing, Apollo was depicted with long hair, but after that the design was altered permanently to one in which Apollo's hair was shorter.

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Philippeioi

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  • Iconography
  • Alexander III and Philip II
  • Influence
  • References
  • External links

Philippeioi (, Philíppeioi), later called Alexanders (Ἀλέξανδροι, Aléxandroi), were the gold coins used in the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. First issued at some point between 355 and 347 BC, the coins featured a portrait of the Greek deity Apollo on the obverse, and on the reverse, an illustration of a biga, a Greek chariot drawn by two horses. They had the value of one gold stater each. In the first issuing, Apollo was depicted with long hair, but after that the design was altered permanently to one in which Apollo's hair was shorter.

The coins were intended primarily for large purchases outside of Macedonia. As a result, they spread quickly, first to the Balkans and continental Greece, and eventually throughout the Western world of the time; stashes of philippeioi have been uncovered in Italy, Constantinople, Southern Russia, Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt. The vast majority of these were actually struck by Philip's successor, Alexander the Great. The philippeioi issued by Alexander after Philip's death continued to use that name officially, though they were often called "alexanders" by Alexander's supporters.

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