20081209

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus I Nicator BCE 312-281

AE 15 mm, 2.53 g, Antioch mint, circa late 280’s BCE
SC 22.2 variety (caduceus in oblong square countermark not noted in SC I p. 21, for this variety)

O: winged hd of Medusa r., dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΣEΛEYKOY below, bull butting r., dotted border. Control Pi-A above royal title. Caduceus c/m at 6 o’clock beneath bull.

Ex: Prof. Carl DeVries (1921-2010) Collection, Egyptologist Univ. Chicago
Acquisition: 2008

In SC I V II, p. 50 it is noted for C/M 16 "Caduceus" that SC 22.2 is not noted among the c/m issues, though the c/m is described as "caduceus in elongated rectangular punch...Reverse, beneath bull" as is noted with this issue. As for the locale where the c/m was applied the following is stated: "Either applied at Europus (Dura), or applied at Antioch to identify a batch of coins consigned to Dura."

This may be supported by the fact that the coin was in fairly good condition when the c/m was applied therefore indicating that the coin could have had the c/m applied while still at the mint or shortly after being delivered to it's destination from the mint.