Share a Seleucid

[ambr0zie]

I am not a Seleukid coins collector but I wanted to add a few.

Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos I Soter 281-261 BC. Bronze Æ 13 mm., 2,62 g

Houghton-Lorber 315a; Newell WSM 1369; BMC Seleucid p. 13, 58; SNG Spaer 233; SNG Cop 77; SGCV II 6883; HGC 9 167 (R2), , Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, bust of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; reverse Nike walking left, raising wreath in right hand, long palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, ANTIOXOY downward on right, symbol in circle outer left (control), no control right

The second Seleukid coin I bought, in the same auction, is the reason I replied. I was checking my collection today and I was surprised of how beautiful this coin is in hand - plenty of details and an excellent black, homogeneous toning. 

Seleukid Kingdom. Magnesia on the Maeander . Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC.  Bronze Æ 17 mm., 4,02
Obv: Head of Artemis right, bow and quiver behind.
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY.
Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting bow on ground; all within maeander pattern. Controls: Monogram in field to outer right, two monograms in field to outer left.
SC 670.

The 3rd one, in the same auction also, was a (weak) excuse to add a coin with an elephant in my collection.

Seleukid Kingdom. Sardeis. Antiochos III Megas 223-187 BC.  Bronze Æ 12 mm., 1,96 g.

 

Obv - Laureate head of Apollo right, with spiral curls

Rev - Legend: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY (vertical left and right), monogram above elephant

Elephant standing left

SC 981

 

My last Seleukid was bought for the reverse. I don't have an Athens tetradrachm so this is good to ilustrate the image 🙂

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2
Mint: Antioch
Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right
Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm.
Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY
SC 2263.2f.
6,66 g, 20mm

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2022 by ambr0zie

[filolif]

Thanks to everyone who has shared so far. Great coins! Here are a couple more from my collection.

 

Here's an Antiochos IV Epiphanes Tetradrachm. 175-164 BC 28.5mm, 16.78 g Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint

 

Here's a Demetrios II Nikator second reign Tetradrachm. 129-125 BC.  26.5mm, 16.65 g, Damaskos mint

 

Last one for now, a Antiochos IX Tetradrachm. 96-95 BC. 15.90 g 28 mm, Antioch Mint

 

Keep 'em coming!

[NathanB]

Ah-ha! It seems I'm back.  My thanks to @Severus Alexander for suggesting I come this way.

And before I proceed, I note that in an effort to be a new and improved NathanB, I will attempt to avoid politics almost completely, and to concentrate on the coins themselves, ancient texts that speak of them, and the joys that come of discussing those things here with you all.

There are some really nice Seleukids here!  Very nice, very expensive--at least to me.  Of course I'd love to own them!  I'll start with my worst one, both in terms of the coin itself, and also the photo of it (one of my very first):

Above: Antiochus II. AE 16 mm, 3.42 g. It may not be pretty, but it's mine! 

Quite some time after taking the above picture, I was able to learn some tips from a number of good people over at CT (some of whom are here).  The next photos are a step up.

I do truly love the green patina on this "bottlecap" coin of Antiochus VI:

Above: Antiochus VI. Serrate AE 22 mm, 7.52 g.

Here's another Seleukid, but the image is much smaller--it's a snip of an image, actually:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 19.8 mm , 7.2 g.

I find the above coin rather interesting because the portrait is so small compared to the size of the flan. The fact that it's so off-center accentuates that.

Below is another coin with a lovely green patina:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 16, 4.04 g.

And apparently I don't have enough Demetrios I Soter's in my life, so...

Above: Demetrios I Soter again--Serrate AE 20 mm, 6.48 g.

I think I've saved the best of Mr. DIS for the last.  As some of you know, I am very much a beginner at coin photography, but I was really very happy with my picture of another bottlecap coin below--and it's a rather large one:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 25 mm, 14.56 g.

And it's worth pointing out that this is a common coin.  It is a very large and heavy coin, but it's nothing special in terms of grade, surfaces, and so on.  But I had such fun when I was taking the above pictures!

But enough of Demetrios I Soter.  Below, we see a coin from a usurper:

Above: Alexander II Zabinas. Serrate AE 17 mm, 6.68 g.

Finally, I also have one Seleukid coin that I have not been able to identify as to which Seleucus it is from:

Above: Seleucus, but which one?  (AE 16 mm, 4.9 g.)

I actually do have a few recently-arrived unphotographed Seleukid coins.  A few of them are from one of the earliest step-[insert-Samuel L Jackson's favourite on-screen word here]'s in history.  There's a well-known story in Plutarch and a number of very famous paintings that take their inspiration from that story, but I think that will be a few pairs of photos for another time. 

On another note, why the Seleukids?  Short answer: they're cheap as--well, you know what!  I think the value you get as a collector for your hard-earned dollars is really on the high end with so many of the Seleukids.  Aside from being excellent value for your dollar, they are also from a dynasty that oversaw one of the most ethnically diverse kingdoms that came out of the aftermath of Alexander.  The western borders of the kingdom at its height nearly took in Macedon itself, and probably would have if it weren't for the untimely assassination of Seleucus I by Ptolemy Ceraunus. To the east, it reached up to what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms there were direct offshoots from the Seleukid one, and they have their own fascinating histories--and, of course, coins! 

--

UPDATE: Does anyone know how I can delete the few photos that keep showing up at the end of my post?  I've tried deleting them several times over, and they keep showing up anyway.

Edited August 26, 2022 by NathanB

[AncientOne]

 

Antiochos VIII Epiphanes. Sole reign, 121-97 B.C. AE 18

Obv: Radiate head of Antichos VIII right.
Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, transverse scepter behind shoulder.

 

Syria, Apameia. AE14. Seleucid Year 238 = 75-74 BC.

Obv: Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy.
Rev: AΠAMEΩN THΣ IEΡAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY bunch of grapes on a stem.

[thenickelguy]

The coins posted here are beautiful. Now you guys and gals know I'm a rookie at this stuff.

I saw the title "Share a Seleucid" and said hmmmmm? What's a Seleucid?

It rang a bell but I had to look it up. I learned The Seleucid Empire was a Greek state in Western Asia that existed during the Hellenistic Period from 312 BC to 63 BC. OK, so I find that I do have a Seleucid.

I like it but it isn't mint state. I like the desert patina with a cameo effect on my heavily worn

Antiochus VIII with an Eagle on the reverse 125-96 BC

 

 

[thenickelguy]

Haha! What a coincidence, A bird in hand is worth two on the forum.

[quant.geek]

A few more that was hiding in my gallery...

Seleukid Empire: Alexander II Zebinas (128-122 BCE) Æ Unit, Antioch (SC 2237.1b; SNG Spaer 2343-4; Bab 1309)

Obv: Radiate and diademed head of Alexander Zebinas right; dotted border
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Titles vertically downwards to right and left of vertical parallel twin cornucopiae with bunch of grapes and long filet; A - Π in inner fields, star to lower left

 

 

Seleukid Empire: Alexander II Zebinas (128-122 BCE) Æ Unit, Antioch (SC 2237.1b; SNG Spaer 2343-4; Bab 1309)

Obv: Radiate and diademed head of Alexander Zebinas right; dotted border
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Titles vertically downwards to right and left of vertical parallel twin cornucopiae with bunch of grapes and long filet; A - Π in inner fields, star to lower left

 

Seleukid Empire: Antiochos IX Eusebes Philopator (114-95 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Antioch (SC 2363a; HGC 9, 1228i)

Obv: Diademed head right
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ; Athena Nikephoros standing left; to outer left, monogram above A; A to inner right; all within wreath

 

[LONGINUS]

Seleucid or Seleukid coins are beautiful. My first coins were in boxes of Holy Land collections which were my earliest ancient coin purchases.

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by LONGINUS

[maridvnvm]

The nicest Seleucid I have owned is probably this one. It was a shame to part ith it.

Seleucid Kingdom, Seleukos I, Silver tetradrachm

Obv:- Head of Herakles right, clad in lion head headdress
Rev:- BASILEWS SELEUKOU, Zeus enthroned left, holding Nike and scepter, monogram left;
Antioch mint, c. 300 B.C.;
Tef:- SNG Spaer 2, WSM 923, CSE 8

[Al Kowsky]

On 5/30/2022 at 8:03 PM, Alegandron said:

Seleukid Demetrios I Soter 162-150 BCE AE 17 serrate 16.8mm 3.9g Antioch on Orontes mint Horse Hd L - Elephant Hd R- SC 1646 SNG Spaer 1299-1304
 

I love these "bottlecap" coins & some day I'll add one to my collection. Does anyone know the reason for the odd shape of these coins 🧐?

[Al Kowsky]

On 5/31/2022 at 10:22 AM, DANTE said:

If I had the budget and discipline in collecting then Seleucid portraits/coins would be high on my list. As it is, I have only a few eclectic examples. 

I'm still on the lookout for my White Whale: a double shekel from Babylon with a Seleucid anchor. For me, that would be the ultimate (seminal) Seleucid coin.

Here are some of mine.

Seleukos I, appropriately from Seleukeia:

 

In the name of Seleukos I, under Antiochos I, by  Philetairos, and in the types of Alexander. Four in one, a versatile coin:

 

 

And a serrate:

 

That's a stunning "bottlecap" bronze 😊.

[Al Kowsky]

11 hours ago, NathanB said:

Ah-ha! It seems I'm back.  My thanks to @Severus Alexander for suggesting I come this way.

And before I proceed, I note that in an effort to be a new and improved NathanB, I will attempt to avoid politics almost completely, and to concentrate on the coins themselves, ancient texts that speak of them, and the joys that come of discussing those things here with you all.

There are some really nice Seleukids here!  Very nice, very expensive--at least to me.  Of course I'd love to own them!  I'll start with my worst one, both in terms of the coin itself, and also the photo of it (one of my very first):

Above: Antiochus II. AE 16 mm, 3.42 g. It may not be pretty, but it's mine! 

Quite some time after taking the above picture, I was able to learn some tips from a number of good people over at CT (some of whom are here).  The next photos are a step up.

I do truly love the green patina on this "bottlecap" coin of Antiochus VI:

Above: Antiochus VI. Serrate AE 22 mm, 7.52 g.

Here's another Seleukid, but the image is much smaller--it's a snip of an image, actually:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 19.8 mm , 7.2 g.

I find the above coin rather interesting because the portrait is so small compared to the size of the flan. The fact that it's so off-center accentuates that.

Below is another coin with a lovely green patina:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 16, 4.04 g.

And apparently I don't have enough Demetrios I Soter's in my life, so...

Above: Demetrios I Soter again--Serrate AE 20 mm, 6.48 g.

I think I've saved the best of Mr. DIS for the last.  As some of you know, I am very much a beginner at coin photography, but I was really very happy with my picture of another bottlecap coin below--and it's a rather large one:

Above: Demetrios I Soter. Serrate AE 25 mm, 14.56 g.

And it's worth pointing out that this is a common coin.  It is a very large and heavy coin, but it's nothing special in terms of grade, surfaces, and so on.  But I had such fun when I was taking the above pictures!

But enough of Demetrios I Soter.  Below, we see a coin from a usurper:

Above: Alexander II Zabinas. Serrate AE 17 mm, 6.68 g.

Finally, I also have one Seleukid coin that I have not been able to identify as to which Seleucus it is from:

Above: Seleucus, but which one?  (AE 16 mm, 4.9 g.)

I actually do have a few recently-arrived unphotographed Seleukid coins.  A few of them are from one of the earliest step-[insert-Samuel L Jackson's favourite on-screen word here]'s in history.  There's a well-known story in Plutarch and a number of very famous paintings that take their inspiration from that story, but I think that will be a few pairs of photos for another time. 

On another note, why the Seleukids?  Short answer: they're cheap as--well, you know what!  I think the value you get as a collector for your hard-earned dollars is really on the high end with so many of the Seleukids.  Aside from being excellent value for your dollar, they are also from a dynasty that oversaw one of the most ethnically diverse kingdoms that came out of the aftermath of Alexander.  The western borders of the kingdom at its height nearly took in Macedon itself, and probably would have if it weren't for the untimely assassination of Seleucus I by Ptolemy Ceraunus. To the east, it reached up to what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms there were direct offshoots from the Seleukid one, and they have their own fascinating histories--and, of course, coins! 

--

UPDATE: Does anyone know how I can delete the two photos that keep showing up at the end of my post?  I've tried deleting them several times over, and they keep showing up anyway.

Nathan, You look like a serious "bottlecap" collector 😉. Do you hunt down these coins 🧐?

[Alegandron]

13 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

I love these "bottlecap" coins & some day I'll add one to my collection. Does anyone know the reason for the odd shape of these coins 🧐?

Thank you, Al.

I wish I knew. Years ago, I read speculation that the Roman Republic created serratus denarii to protect from clipping. However, that did not last long during their minting.

Interesting that Seleukids are famous for BRONZE bottlecap designs. Yet, I am not aware of serrated SILVER Seleukids.  Why would you clip bronze coins? 

 

Edited June 5, 2022 by Alegandron

[maridvnvm]

Demetrios I Soter, tetradrachm

Obv:– Diademed head of Demetrios I right inside a fillet border
Rev:– BASILEWS DEMHTROS SOTEPOS / BXR, Tyche seated left on throne ornamented with tritoness, holding short scepter and cornucopia; in outer left field, controls; in exergue
Minted in Antioch on the Orontes, S.E. 162 (151/0 B.C.)
Reference:– Seleucid Coins 1641.8h; SMA 131.
Obverse struck a little off center

16.53g, 28mm, 0o

 

[Pantoffel]

Here are two other Seleukid coins from Seleukos I Nicator struck in the style of Alexander the Great. 

This is a more rare one struck in Ekbatana. 

 

 

This one comes from Seleukeia on the Tigris I

Here's a nice one from  Antiochos IX Eusebes Philopator (Kyzikenos), struck in Antiochia on the Orontes

Edited June 5, 2022 by Pantoffel

[Troyden]

Tyrean tetradrachm of Antiochus VII Sidetes.

[Al Kowsky]

My rarest & most attractive Seleukid coin is pictured below 😎.

Seleukis & Pieria - Seleukeia. Dated Year 18 (92-91 BC). Obverse: Turreted head of Tyche. Reverse: Thunderbolt of Zeus placed on decorated stool. AR: 15.00 gm, 34 mm, 12 h. BMC-; DCA 697; Sear 5887.

Seleukeia was an important costal city at the foot of Mt. Pieria. It was founded by Seleukos I in 300 BC. It possessed an important harbor that also served the needs of Antioch, Syria. Seleukeia obtained its freedom from regal control in 109/08 BC.

 

[DANTE]

1 hour ago, Al Kowsky said:

Does anyone know the reason for the odd shape of these coins 🧐?

Good question. I wish I knew the answer.

Here's another Seleucid. I got it partly because of Zeus Ouranios (Zeus, ruler of the Heavens)

 

[Al Kowsky]

Spotting the Tet posted by DANTE triggered my memory , I also have a Tet of Antiochos VIII from Antioch, with a different version of Zeus on the reverse 😊.

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes. 121-96 BC (3rd reign at Antioch, c. 109-96 BC). Antioch, Syria. AR Tetradrachm: 16.24 gm, 28 mm, 1 h. Reverse: Zeus Nikephoros seated on throne. SC 2309.1c; HGC 9, 1200. Ex Numismatics Fine Arts XVII, lot 439, June 27, 1986.

[LONGINUS]

5 hours ago, Alegandron said:

I love these "bottlecap" coins & some day I'll add one to my collection. Does anyone know the reason for the odd shape of these coins 🧐?

I agree — I have several and they are all Seleucid bronze coins. I always thought that the serrated edge was to permit identification without having to see the coin. I like to think that the Seleucids were ahead of their time and were providing for the vision impaired. 

[Alegandron]

4 minutes ago, LONGINUS said:

I agree — I have several and they are all Seleucid bronze coins. I always thought that the serrated edge was to permit identification without having to see the coin. I like to think that the Seleucids were ahead of their time and were providing for the vision impaired. 

Funny Lil Abner, Kickapoo Joy Juice bottle cap. LOL. i live on the Kickapoo River!

[robinjojo]

Some beautiful examples posted!

My Seleucid tetradrachms, at least the ones photographed so far, are from Tyre, purchased fairly recently from what appears to a hoard or hoards that have hit the market over the past few years.

Seleucid Empire, Antiochus VII Euergetes-Sidetes (138-129 BC), tetradrachm, Tyre.

14.0 grams

 

 

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

This is an unpublished variant of SC-122, an Ar drachm, with a T instead of the usual Σ under the throne.

 

SELEUCOS I NICATOR, Ar Drachm

Size: 16x18 mm
Weight 3.89 g
Die Axis: 01:00

Obv: Alexander head in lion scalp facing right. Dotted border.
Rev: Zeus seated facing left, right leg drawn back, victory crowning Zeus in extended right hand, long vertical lotus-tipped sceptrer behind in left arm. In left field: ON. In right field: [Σ]ΕΛΕΥKΟΥ. Under throne: T above ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ]. Dotted border.
Ref: Houghton & Lorber SC-0122 var (T under throne)
Provenance: ZURQIEH_DUBAI

- Broucheion

[NewStyleKing]

When I collected Seleucids    Demetrios l Soter 155/4 BC Tetradrachm

Obv: Diademed head of Demetrios right in wreathed border 31mm 16.71g SC 1641.3a Antioch Mint REV: Tyche holding sceptre and cornucopia, seated Left on throne supported by Tritoness right. 2 monograms in LF ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ HNP ( SE 158 ) in exergue

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes)

Tetradrachm of the Seleucid Empire Period 138/129 BC

Material: Silver

Diameter: 29mm

Weight: 16.36g

Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Seleucid Empire

Reference: SC 2061.4e, HGC 9 1067d

 

Obverse:

You can see the diademed head of Antiochos VII to right.

 

Reverse:

Athena Nikephorus standing to the left holding a spear and shield. Two monograms and A on the fields. The inscription reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ for Basileos Antiochou Eurgetou (Basileús Antíochos ho Eurgetou / King Antiochos the Benefactor).