Gold stater of Philipp II. of Macedonia and celtic Imitation from Brackenheim near Heilbronn Gold stater of King Philip II of Macedon

The winner of one of the great sporting competitions of ancient Greece was guaranteed fame and worldwide renown, and even kings strove for success at the games in honour of the gods. To do so, they did not have to compete in person, but – as in the modern day – could participate indirectly as sponsors and ‘racing stable owners’ in the races of the two- and four-horse chariots. Thus, the Macedonian king Philip II won several times at the Olympic Games. As the affiliation of his northern empire to a proud Greece was in doubt, his success in the traditional competitions, in which only Greeks were allowed to participate, was so significant for Philip that he had his victorious pair of horses at a gallop, including chariot and driver, depicted on gold coins. The corresponding obverse shows the Greek god Apollo, whose sanctuary in Delphi was also appropriated by the Macedonian king to confirm his rightful Greek status. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollon to right. Reverse: ΦIΛIΠΠOY (Philippou). Charioteer driving biga to right. Trident in field right.