AE 17.5mm, 3.21g, 12h
Head of Herakles r., wearing lion skin. R/ Lion standing r., breaking javelin with its jaws.
SNG ANS 114; SNG Alpha Bank 240; HGC 3.1, 839.
Ex London Ancient Coins
Originally, I didn’t intend to add a coin from Perdikkas III, but over time I realized that the rise of Philip II started with the reigns of his two older brothers.
Similarly, Perdikkas III wasn’t supposed to take the throne. That belonged to his older brother Alexander II. However, when Alexander was killed by Ptolemy of Aloros, Perdikkas received the throne – but only as a figurehead. He was still young – though we don’t know how young, so Ptolemy served as regent.
Alexander II was killed in 368 BCE, and by 365 BCE Perdikkas III was old and savvy enough to realize who Ptolemy really was, so he had him executed. From then, Perdikkas ruled himself.
Unfortunately, he was young and not so great in war. He bickered with Athens over Amphipolis, though with no resolution. His last great campaign was to take on King Bardylis of Illyria. This ended in complete and utter disaster. Perdikkas himself was killed and the Macedonians were slaughtered.
In the throne now was Perdikkas III’s infant son, Amyntas IV. Perdikkas’ younger brother Philip II easily pushed the baby aside, took the throne, and changed a few things. Eventually, he would pay those same Illyrians a very different visit. The line of Perdikkas was extinguished with the ascent of Alexander the Great, who viewed Amytnas IV as a threat and had him executed.
Alexander II is assassinated by Ptolemy of Aloros, who had conspired against him. Ptolemy becomes regent for Alexander’s younger brother, Perdikkas III.