Greece/Seleucid; Alexander I Balas BCE 152-145

AE 21 mm Serrated with central cavities, 8.56 g, Unattributed Bronze Issue, Probably North Syrian

SC 1818, cf. SNG Spaer 1433-34

O: Diademed hd of Alexander r., diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, on r., AΛEΞANΔPOY on l., Zeus aetophorus enthroned l. holding eagle and sceptre

Symbol (as ground line) Horizontal Anchor with flukes on the r.

Ex: G. Freeman (TX)
Acquisition: 2008
Tantalus ID#35531

Greece/Macedon; Alexander III BCE 336-323

AE 13 mm, 2.20 g, 6h. uncertain mint

O: Herakles in lion skin headress r.

R: [AΛ]EΞANΔPO[Y] between club above and mostly off flan, and gorytos below. No visible control/mint marks.

Ex: ASC
Acquisition: 2008

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.

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus I Nicator BCE 312-281

AE 23 mm, 9.56 g, Antioch mint, circa BCE 300-295

O: laureate hd of Apollo r, with wavy locks on back of neck, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r., ΣEΛEYKOY on l., Athena Promachos in Corinthian helmet stg r., brandishing spear and shield, dotted border. Seleucid symbol, inner right, Anchor, flukes upward.

SC 15.1, SNG Spaer 3-5 v, CSE 1, 2 v., CSE 2, 8 v., WSM 911

Ex: Failla Numismatics Stock #ED9

Ex: Aegean Numismatics Stock#0607163
Ex: CNG EA 166 (13 June 2007) portion of lot 249

Acquisition: 2008

Tantalus ID#35532

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II Nicator Second Reign BCE 129-126/5

AR Drachm, 17mm, 4.10g., 1 h., Antioch mint, likely minted in late Spring of BCE 129 to Spring BCE 128.

SC 2167b, De Clercq 203; Paris R2254, SNG Spaer 2163-4 var., (same obv. die, different monogram), SMA--, Babelon 1221=De Luynes 3394 var., (same obv. die, different monogram); BMC Seleucid--, CSE---.

O: diad hd of Demetrius r., bearded, with hair combed smooth on crown of hd, diad ends falling straight behind, fillet border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕ[ΩΣ] ΔΗMHTPIO[Y ]in two lines on r., ΘEOY NIKATOP[OΣ] in two lines on the l., Zeus enthroned l resting on sceptre and holding Nike inside inscription, facing r., offering wreath to Zeus. Controls in ex., primary on the left Ξ, then AM (?) to r.

This coin is the plate coin for SC 2167b in SC II found in Plate 40 though is incorrectly identified as De Clercq 203, when in fact it is not. De Clercq 203 can be viewed at this link at the BNF as it remains in the BNF collection and the example noted above is superior to the BNF examples.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8574723w

Ex: Sayles & Lavender
Ex: CNG EA 107:92 (2005)
Ex: Jean Elsen 73:127 (2003) The Elsen Auction description and information follows:

"D/ Tête barbue et diadémée à d. R/ [Légende en grec] Zeus trônant à g., tenant une petite Niké et un long sceptre. A l'exergue, [lettres grecques]. Quality: about Very Fine. Estimate: 200 euro. Sold at 220 euro + 18% buyer's fee." (email from R. Dus at Elsen 01-2009)

cf. Schwei, D. "The Reactions of Mint Workers to the Tumultuous Second Reign of Demetrius II Nicator" AJN Second Series 28 (2016) pp. 65-104.

This coin catalogued on page 90 under the Antioch Drachms as #7 (dies a1/p6)

CNG noted that this coin was "Rare" as well as the following:

"Newell, in SMA, analyzed the coinage of Demetrios' second reign at Antioch: It was a large, but short, issue probably struck to fund his military campaign to help Cleopatra II take Egypt from Ptolemy VIII. After Demetrios departed, however, Antioch revolted, allowing an Egyptian army to enter and install Alexander II Zebina as king. Unable to regain the northern part of his kingdom, Demetrios was murdered in Tyre. The fact that this issue shares the same obverse die with a wide variety of reverse dies supports Newell's theory of a short, massive coinage."

cf. Newell, SMA pp. 83-84
cf. Bevan, THE HOUSE OF SELEUCUS, pp. 248-249 (v. II)

CNG was likely in error noting that it was struck circa "126/5 BC". Demetrius had vacated Antioch in BCE 128.

This is another example of the same coin likely from the same dies but certainly same reverse die since the die crack that extends from 10-12 o'clock on the upper left is apparent in the above example as it is in this example.

This example is Ex Superior sale 1988, 2032. From the Harlad Salvesen collection as well as Ex Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG Auction 106 lot 335 (09.05.2018)

Islamic/Ottoman Interregnum CE 1402-1413 (AH 806-816)

Mehmet I Çelebi b. Bayazit CE 1402-1421 with Timur as Suzerain
AR Akche, 15 mm, 1.17 g. Bursa mint, AH 806/CE 1403-1404
M. 1240, Nuri Pere 27

O: Shahada with struck at Brusa 806

R: Timur Khan Gurkan
Mehmet bin Bayezit Khan
Khalid malka

 Ex: Allen G. Berman
Acquisition: 1988

Cf. link to similar coin that went unsold at auction, the example above is nicer with a fuller strike and fuller inscriptions. http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=618571&AucID=445&Lot=7199

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus II Callinicus BCE 246-225

AE 19 mm, 5.28 g, Antioch mint after ca. BCE 244
somewhat porous

CSE 52 variety, SC 693, SNG Spaer 412 variety

O: Laureate hd of Apollo r., hair rolled behind with loose wavy locks covering the neck, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ on right, ΣΕΛΕΥKOY on left, tripod. EY outer left, control on outer right not visible.

Ex: SPQR via eBay

Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid, Antiochus I BCE 281-261

AE 15 mm, 2.54 g, Perhaps Smyrna or Sardes mint, minted late in reign
SC 315 , WSM 1371 v (Newell dates this to c. BCE 277-272)

O: Facing bust of Athena in triple-crested helmet, dotted border
R: Nike adv l holding wreath and palm, BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r., ANTIOXOY on l
Primary control on outer left as seen in photo. second off flan perhaps if at all.

Ex: AAH
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius III BCE 97/6-88/7

Æ 19.5 x 20 mm, 7.86g Damascus mint. c. BCE 95-94
SC 2454.5, SNG Spaer 2836

O: Radiate diad. bust r.
R: BACΙΛΕΩC ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟV ΘΕΟV on rt., ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟC CΩΤHPOC, on left. Nike walking r holding wreath and palm branch. dotted border. NI above ΦΙ on outer left field.
In ex. monogram on rt, not visible, and date off flan or not fully visible on this piece.

Ex: The Time Machine (MO)
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IV BCE 175-164

AE 16 mm, 3.6 g, Perhaps Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint, after BCE c. 173/2
CSE 788-9, CSE 2, 362, SC 1485.2, SNG Spaer 1144 v

O: Radiate diad hd of Antiochus IV r, one diad end flying up behind and the other falling forward off shoulder, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r., ANTIOXOY on l., Artemis stg facing holding torch and bow, dotted border. Control mark on outer left Π with A inside monogram.

Ex: David Liebert
Acquisition: 2008


According to SC II, the authors propose that these issues could well be from Ascalon/Ashkelon as well, due to “the use of reverse dies much smaller than the flans, and frequent off-center strikes….”(p. 93). The edge chip appears to have occurred in antiquity.

Greece/Olympia; Elis BCE 160-146

AR Hemidrachm, 2.44 grams, 15.46 mm (Achaean League issue)

BCD Peloponnesos 668.1 (this coin), Clerk-236, Agrinion 476

O: laureate hd of Zeus r.

R: AX monogram with F to left A to right I above and fulmen below.

DEALER NOTES: “An especially well centered and struck example with the finer artistic style portrait of Zeus gracing the obverse. Lightly toned, extremely attractive and highly desirable as it was struck in the ancient city where the Olympiads were held. Considerable luster remains in the protected areas of both surfaces with only rub on the highest areas preventing me from assigning this piece the EF designation. Rare. "

Ex: Hirsh 155 (1987), 91

Ex: BCD Collection (as noted above)

Ex: LHS 96 (2006), 668.1

Greece/Arkadia; Megalopolis BCE c.195-188

AR Triobol, 2.28 g (Arkadian League Issue)
BCD Peloponnesos 1547.1 (this coin); Agrinion 204 (same obverse die)

O: laureate hd of Zeus left
R: Pan seated on rocks holding lagobolon, right hand raised, eagle in field

Ex: BCD Collection, LHS 96 (2006) 1547.1

Judea/Hasmonean; Yehohanan Hyrcanus BCE 135-104

AE Prutah, 14 mm, 2.39 g, 1h

Hendin 457 variety

O: Hebrew inscription "Yehohannan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews" surrounded by wreath. yhohnn/hkhn hgd/l hvr hy/hudm

R: double cornucopia adorned with ribbons, pomegranate between horns, monogram "A" is not visible.

Ex: Brian Bucklan

Acquisition: 2008

cf. a similar example that appears to share both style and characteristics of the obverse inscription:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=223343&AucID=322&Lot=2080

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VII Sidetes BCE 138-129

AR Drachm, 19mm, 3.79 g, 12h, Tarsus mint

O: Diademed hd of Antiochus VII r. dotted border
R: Sandan standing atop winged lion; monogram outer left, monogram outer right, BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY

CSE II, 587, CSE 479, SC 2058.2, SNG Spaer----

Ex: CH X; 338 Tarsus? 1997

Ex: Brad Bowlin, Eukratides Numismatics (MS)

Dealer’s Notes: “Superb EF with multi-colored toning with lustrous surfaces. Very rare and exceptional for this issue or any issue”

This same coin is Ex: Harlan J. Berk 98, 7 Oct 1997, lot 174 described as "Antiochus VIII; 125-96 BC, Drachm, Cilicia, Tarsus, 3.79 g. Houghton-479. RX: Sandan Standing on back of horned, winged lion. Some surface crystallization and incrustation. Otherwise, Good VF." It was also illustrated within the catalogue. It is also described in SC II as 2058.2 " US market (Berk) October 1997" but notes a control mark that is apparently incorrect in the text as none of the Antiochus VII drachms from this particular sale match the control mark noted in the text of SC II from what I can determine.

Acquisition: 2008

Tantalus ID#35535

CNG wrote about this type as follows:

Tarsos had been a Seleukid mint nearly from the beginning of the kingdom's existence, and the reverse types of the early kings mainly followed the traditional Seleukid types, such as Apollo and Nike. Alexander I Balas introduced the Sandan type, honoring the local deity, on both his tetradrachms and drachms. As an usurper, Balas may have added the type in a bid to win-over the population at Tarsos. The type proved so popular that it was continued by all the following Seleukid kings. Nevertheless, these issues, particularly the drachms, are extremely rare until the reign of Alexander II Zebina. Fewer than ten Sandan drachms are known for Antiochos VII. [In actuality, there are >15]

To see another type of Sandan depiction click here:

http://guberman.blogspot.com/2007/12/greeceionia-smyrna-bce-174-164.html

Close up of Sandan from this coin.

New Variety of SC 1407 identified

Please follow the link below to visit the page with this particular new variety:

http://guberman.blogspot.com/2007/04/greek-seleucid-antiochus-iv-epiphanes.html

According to an email from Oliver Hoover “This does indeed look like an unrecorded monogram. It looks to me like you have a new example of an imitative type of the Antioch Laodice/elephant series….” cf. entry for additional info that may correct this statement.

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Second Reign BCE 110/109

AE 18 mm, beveled edge, --g, 12h, Antioch mint

CSE 2, 768 v, SC 2368 v., SNG Spaer 2701ff v., Babelon 1501ff v

O: laureate hd of bearded Herakles r. dotted border

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines on r. ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ on l., Athena stg l. holding Nike and resting l. hand on shield, spear behind.

Monogram control mark on far left. Undated or date off flan.

Ex: David Connors

Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VII Sidetes BCE 138-129

AR Drachm, 3.93 g, 18 mm, 12h. Damascus mint dated COP=SE 176= BCE 137-136

SC 2097, De Clercq 187 (3.97 g according to LeRider/Seyrig in RN 1967), CSE 2, 621 (appears to be same dies, and is same weight). According to one expert on Seleucid coins with whom I spoke, he related that Antiochus VII Damascus drachms are "... rare but not unheard of...but great find for sure!"

There are two examples in the ANS, both apparently misdated SE 175. The examples are:

1944.100.77932 (3.89 g)

1961.179.100 (3.78 g)

O: Diad. Hd of Antiochus VII both diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border

R: [BAΣI]ΛΕΩΣ [A]NTIOXOY in two lines on right, EYEPΓETOY on left, Nike Adv left holding wreath. Date lower right is COP below legend. To left field, ΛΕ above monogram.

Ex: CUd

Acquisition: 2008

Tantalus ID#35536

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VI Dionysus BCE 144-142/1

AR Drachm; 4.0 g, 17.5 mm, 12h. Antioch mint, --P = SE 169 or 170=BCE 144-142
Newell 244, BMC 4,65,6 (dealer's classification)
CSE I, 237 (same monogram), SC 2002.1d or SC 2002.2c (date is partial on the above example)

O: Diad, radiate hd of Antiochus r. border of dots

R: Apollo std l on omphalos holding arrow and bow, between legs IAP in ex. [--P] ΣΤΑInscription reads: BAΣIΛΕΩΣ/ ANTIOXOY/ EΠΙΦANOYΣ/ [ΔIONYΣOY]

Ex: CUd
Acquisition: 2008

Claudius II CE 268-270 ex Braithwell Hoard

AE Antoninianus, 2.76g., Rome mint CE 268-269,
RIC 34/6, RCV 11334, C. 84, Hunter p. lxxviii. Braitwell Hoard Report, #82 or #100 (3 examples in the hoard)

O: draped radiate bust right, IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG
R:, Fides standing left holding standards, FIDES EXERCI, XI in field right,

Dealer’s Note: very fine.

Ex: Braithwell Hoard (UK) cf. coin of Victorinus here from same hoard for info.

Ex: York Coins

Ex: gift from a friend CUd

Acquisition: 2008

New Variety of SC 361.3b Identified

Please follow the link below to visit the page with this particular new variety:

http://guberman.blogspot.com/2007/04/seleucid-antiochus-i-soter-bce-280-261.html



According to an email from Arthur Houghton, this coin is "...clearly a variant of SC 361.3b, and to my knowledge has not been recorded."

Celtic Ring Money circa 800-500 BCE

AE Celtic ring money, ca. 800-500 BCE, 19mm, 2.8g. Something different for the collection!

Greece/Macedon; Posthumous Alexander III BCE 323-317

AR Drachm, 4.11 g; 16mm; 5 h. Price 1372; Müller 627;
Lampsakos (Mysia) mint,
minted under the authority of Philip III

O: Head right of young Herakles wearing lion’s skin
R:Zeus enthroned left, holding eagle and scepter; in left field, buckle, crescent over A beneath throne; AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡ[OY]


Dealers Note: Fine condition. Ex collection of John Quincy Adams and his descendants, donated in 1913 by Henry Adams(1838-1918)to the Massachusetts Historical Society, and later auctioned by Stack’s on 5 March 1971. The prior owner’s notes indicate that the coins appeared in the aforementioned Stack’s sale as lot 150 (multiple coins). Although this coin and the companion drachm of Philip III (see 1338 Mp) are not accompanied by any original documentation, I have no reason to doubt that they do indeed come from this important sale. The coins are deeply toned in the same hues, are in similar grades, and were probably found in the same hoard.



Ex: John Quincy Adams (1767-1848, President 1825-1829) & Descendants Collection

Ex: Massachusetts Historical Society Collection 1913-1971

Ex: Stacks Sale, 5 March 1971, portion of lot 150.

Ex: Paul Rynearson

Acquisition: 2008
Tantalus ID#35545

John Quincy Adams c. 1843



Notes from Harvey Stack regarding the collection:


Few know that the Adams family also had a coin collection. The numismatic items were first stored at the Society, never even being fully inventoried or studied. The 1950s the collection was moved to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (MFA) to be reviewed and evaluated. Because of its size, this job was slowly worked on. As it was not fully catalogued or available, and funds and people were not available to do this, the collection was considered to be sold. The project was proposed by the MFA.Under the supervision of Cornelius Vermeule, the numismatic curator of MFA and later director of the museum, together with the assistance of Mary Comstock, also of the MFA the collection of coins, medals and other numismatic material was catalogued. After this work was done, it was suggested that the collection be sold at public auction in order to provide the funds to properly microfilm and preserve the entire document collection.My company, Stack's, with our vast experience in dealing with numismatic treasure held by museums and educational institutions, was selected to sell the coins of the Massachusetts Historical Society, which had been assembled by the Adams' family from generation to generation.As to the formation of the collection, it began with the acquisitions of John Adams. He represented Massachusetts at the Continental Congress, from which evolved our Declaration of Independence together with the forming of the United States. His sons continued the numismatic interest.Adams, who later became the second president, in the 1770s and 1780s was not only a delegate to the Continental Congress, but he was also sent to Europe to solicit aid and finances from France in helping the new nation establish itself. While in Europe, because of his interest in coins, he and his son John Quincy Adams (who became our sixth president) assembled coins as they related to history, from the time of the Greek and Roman civilizations, up to the period they lived in.The entire family was quite literate, each having had a Harvard education. They wrote to each other from near and far, telling each other in letters, diaries and documents of their travels. Their writings reflected details of the times they lived in. These narratives are cherished as historical treasures today.An interesting story deserves telling. Norman Stack, my cousin, and I went to Boston to pack up the collection for shipment to New York. The coins and medals were housed in large wooden cabinets, each having some 60 trays to lay out the coins. To secure the collection these cabinets were housed in great storage vaults in a portion of the Museum of Fine Arts. The walls of the vaults were lined with huge display cabinets, some 12 feet high, each containing a quantity of ancient Greek and Roman heads (from statues). There must have been a thousand or more. All seemed to be looking down at Norman and me. All those "watchful eyes" seemed to provide the security for the collection. As there was no table to use for packing, Dr. Vermeule suggested we use the large wooden case in the center of the floor. We asked what was in the case. He told us it was an Egyptian sarcophagus, intact, which the museum hadn't had time to unpack! We remarked, "We guess that's another pair of eyes watching the collection!"After the collection arrived in New York, Stack's prepared a series of catalogs in 1971 and 1973 which offered these numismatic treasures for sale at auction. We were fortunate in obtaining a few photostats of a small inventory of the collection together with a drawing as how the coins were kept in the trays of the cabinets. All were done originally by the Adams family. .. The funds acquired from the sales were used by the Massachusetts Historical Society to photograph and microfilm the papers for permanent record.

cf for more info: http://www.stacks.com/harveystackremembers/archive.aspx

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius III. 97/6-88/7 BCE

Æ 20 mm (6.72 g). Damascus mint BCE 95/4

SC 2455.6-8v

O: Radiate diad. bust r.

R: BACΙΛΕΩC ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟV ΘΕΟV ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟC CΩΤHPOC Nike walking r holding wreath and palm branch. dotted border. In ex. HIΣ . This is the SE date corresponding to SE 218 or BCE 95/4. controls indeterminate.

CSE 862 v. , CSE II 801 v.

Biographical Info: http://www.sfagn.info/information/gb_demetrios_iii.html

Ex: Imperial/A. de la Fe

Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Sicily; Syracuse 3rd Cent. BCE, Two examples

Hieron II BCE 270-215
AE 18 mm, 5.25 g, 11 h. circa BCE 270-230
SG 1223 v.

O: Head of Poseidon left wearing tainia
R: Ornamented trident head between two dolphins dividing IEPΩ/NOΣ in lower field.

Hieron II BCE 270-215
AE 19 mm, 5.74 g, 10 h. circa BCE 270-230
SG 1223 v.

O: Head of Poseidon left wearing tainia
R: Ornamented trident head between two dolphins dividing IEP/ΩNOΣ in lower field.

Both examples Ex: FSR

Acquisition: 2008


“One of the commonest of all Sicilian coins is the bronze bearing the head of Poseidon on the obverse, and his trident on the reverse, with IEPΩNOΣ across the field. Enormous quantities of this coin must have been struck, to judge by the numbers found in modern times.”
---- G.F. HILL, Coins of Ancient Sicily (London, 1903) p. 193

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius I Soter BCE 162-150

AR Tetradrachm 32 x 28 mm, 16.09 g, Antioch mint. According to Newell c. 156-155 BCE

SC 1638.1i, SMA 97, Babelon 719, CSE-, SG 7014 v (example has been overcleaned, though obv. portrait is still attractive)

O: Diad hd of Demetrius rt (cleaning scratch above head) laurel wreath border
R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗMHTPIOY, monogram HP outer left, Tyche std l. on throne holding sceptre, and cornucopiae (horn silver)

Ex: Windsor Antiquities

Acquisition: 2008

Judea/ Herodian; Herod Archelaus BCE 4 – CE 6

AE Prutah (17 mm, 2.52 g)

Hendin 505, AJC II, 241, 6 v, Meshorer TJC 73 v.

O: bunch of grapes with vine leaf and tendril above HP[ωΔOY]
R: Tall helmet with crest and cheek straps viewed from the front, caduceus below to left and inscription [εΘNAPXOY].

Ex: CUd

Acquisition: 2008


cf. TJC pp. 79-80 and Hendin pp.168-171 (4th ed.) for information pertaining to this type (as well as others of this ruler).

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius I BCE 162-150

AR Drachm, 17.3mm, 4.05 g., Antioch mint, Yr. 161 S.E.= BCE 152/1

SNG Spaer 1279, CSE 159 v, SG 7019 v, SC 1642.3d

O: Diad. hd of Demetrius r. fillet border
R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΣΟΤHPOΣ, monograms and SE date AΞP in lower field, cornucopiae to rt.

Ex: Zuzim Judea (NY)

Acquisition: 2008
Tantalus ID# 35558

Biographical info: http://www.sfagn.info/information/gb_demetrios_i.html

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus XII circa 88 - 84 BCE

AE 19mm, 4.98 g. Damascus mint

O: diad bust r.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΔIONYΣΟY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ KAΛΛINIKOY, nude Apollo stg l. holding palm branch and resting l elbow on tripod.

CSE 869 v.

Biographical Info: http://www.sfagn.info/information/gb_antiochos_xii.html

Ex: David Liebert/Time Machine

Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) BCE 121-96

AR Tetradrachm; 16.40 g, 31 x 28 mm, 12 h. Antioch Mint, struck circa BCE 121-113.

O: Diademed head right

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, Zeus Uranios standing left, crescent above head, holding scepter in left hand, star above extended right hand; IE/A to outer left; all within wreath with Φ at 6 o'clock where the wreath halves meet.

SMA 377; Babelon -; SNG Spaer 2500 v; CSE-, SC 2298.1b

Dealer Notes: Fully lustrous, few "bag" marks on cheek. Reverse bold and fully lustrous.

Close up of Zeus Uranios from reverse of this coin with nice artistic detail.

Ex: Eukratides Numismatics/Brad Bowlin
Ex: CNG EA 182 portion lot 307 (20 Feb 2008)

Acquisition: 2008

Tantalus ID#35546

Biographical Info: http://www.sfagn.info/information/gb_antiochos_viii.html

Greece/Macedon; Antigonus Gonatus BCE 277-239

AE 16 mm, 4.18 g.
SNG Cop. 1223 v.

O: ANTI monogram within Macedonian shield.
R: BA-ΣI divided by Macedonian helmet with monograms above on rt and l.

Ex: Frank Robinson
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus III BCE 223-187

AE 11 mm, 2.14 g, Antioch mint
BMC 53 v, Houghton/Lorber 1052

O: laureate hd of Antiochus III as Apollo, dotted border.
R: BAΣIΛΕΩ[Σ on rt., ANTIOXOY on left but off center on this example], Apollo stg l. testing arrow and resting l. hand on grounded bow.

Ex: Duane Pichler via eBay
Acquisition: 2008

Biographical Info: http://www.sfagn.info/information/gb_antiochos_iii.html

Greece/Macedon; Pyrrhus BCE 274-272

AE 16 mm, 4.13 g, Pella mint
Liampi M18b v

O: Monogram of ΠYP in ctr of Macedonian shield.
R: BA-ΣI divided by monogram Macedonian helmet all within oak wreath.

Ex: Frank Robinson
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Macedon; Demetrius Poliorcetes BCE 294-288

AE 17 mm, 3.67 g.
Newell 131 v.

O: monogram of Demetrius in ctr of Macedonian shield.
R: BA-ΣI in lower field on either side of Macedonian helmet.

Ex: Frank Robinson
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Ionia; Miletus c. BCE 525

AR 1/2 Stater, 9 x 8 mm, 1.23 g.

SG 3533 v

O: forepart of lion left
R: star in incuse square

Ex: Frank Robinson
Acquisition: 2008

Greece/Cappadocian Tetradrachm in name of Antiochus VII

Kings of Cappadocia; Ariarathes VII Philometor circa BCE 112/110-100, AR Tetradrachm, 16.41 g, 28 mm, 12 h. Ariaratheia or Eusebia-Tyana mint(?) Struck possibly circa 104-102 BCE.

SC 2148, SNG Spaer 1872 v. (Antiochos VII); Newell SMA 298 v. (Antiochos VII) ; Lorber/Houghton "Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Antiochus VII", plate 17 #294 (this coin) Series 1 Issue 3. Three examples listed from die A25 and this coin was the example chosen to illustrate the die.

O: Diademed hd of Antiochus VII r. fillet border.
R: BAΣIΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΕYEPΓETOY, on outer left monogram ΔI above A, O Λ on inner fields. Athene stg. left holding Nike with rt hand, spear with left arm and resting left hand on shield depicting Gorgon.

Ex: Unpublished E. Anatolia, E. Syria or N. Mesopotamia Hoard 1990 (CH X; 339)

Ex: CUd, WA

Acquisition: 2008
Tantalus ID#35537

Reference:

CNG Research site noting the Houghton/Lorber article in the NC 2006, "Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Antiochus VII". The CNG note (appearing under EA 167 Lot 58) states: "Lorber & Houghton identify a series of Seleukid style tetradrachms that are linked to the Cappadocian regal series by shared control marks and hoard finds. The series belongs to the confused period in Cappadocia after the assassination of Ariarathes VI around 112 BC, when Mithradates VI of Pontus and Nicomedes III of Bithynia contended for influence over the strategic kingdom. Nicomedes had married the widow of Ariarathes VI, but Mithradates drove both of them out and installed Ariarathes VII as a puppet ruler, only to have him murdered a few years later. The tetradrachms were probably struck to pay the mercenary armies employed during the time of troubles."

This coin bears the same control marks as a Tetradrachm struck by Ariarathes VII in his own name, therefore the attribution.

Frankly, I obtained this as an Antiochus VII Tet. but am satisfied that it depicts the object of my search as well as being something a little more interesting and an historically fascinating attribution besides.
Photo from the NC article showing #294, this coin.


According to an email from Alan Humphries (UK) "Your coin appears to be no 294 (p.74, obv. die A25, rev. die P1) in their listing, illustrated on Pl.17, and noted as coming from a 1990 hoard." He later added when asked if 294 was indeed this coin "If yours weighs 16.39 gm then I am certain it is No.294: if it differs very much from that then we are in the territory of cast fakes, but the illustration on pl.17 appears identical to your piece. The exact provenance of the 1990 hoard is uncertain, but Turkey/northern Syria is the rough area." When advised that there was a +0.02 to +0.03 g difference he felt that this was within the realm of error as his was +0.01 g on his scale.

Much thanks to Alan Humphries for a copy of the NC article and his emails and please visit a site and museum Alan is associated with http://www.thackraymuseum.org/

Greece/Calabria; Taras (Tarentum) BCE 380-334

AR Diobol, 1.07 g 14 mm.

Vlasto 1312 (this coin) [note: though once again, the plate photo of the plaster cast bares only a passing resemblance to the actual coin. see below]

O: Hd of Athena r wearing crested helmet upon which Skylla is depicted, on flap of helmet Φ.

R: ------Herakles naked kneeling r. on r. knee grappling with lion, in r. club, in f. above strygil.

Ex: M. P. Vlasto (1874-1936) Collection, 1312 (V.F.)

Ex: Den of Antiquity, UK

Acquisition: 2008
Tantalus ID#35538
Plate photo from Ravel's text on the Vlasto Collection, plate XL. thanks to Don Hay for the scan of the photo and info from the catalogue

Greece/Seleucid Empire; Antiochus III BCE 223-187

AR Tetradrachm (16.89 gm, 28 mm). Susa mint. After BCE 220
O:Diademed head right
R:Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; monograms to outer left and right of ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ANTIOXO[Y] .

SC 1069.3b (this coin); CSE 1051 (this coin).

Dealer notes: “A very rare coin with a superb pedigree. Very nice Eastern style.”

EX: Susiana Hoard (1965?) IGCH 1806 deposition after BCE 138
Reported in Un trésor de monnaies hellénistiques trouvé près de Suse in Revue Numismatique 1966 Houghton/LeRider pp. 111-127, illus. Plate 4, 112.2 (this coin) 16.89 g

EX: Arthur Houghton Collection SC 1069.3b, CSE 1051 (this coin in both)

EX: WKR Collection

EX: Eukratides Ancient Numismatics (Dr. Brad Bowlin) (MS/USA)

Acquisition: 2008

RN 1966 (p. 112) Houghton/LeRider reported the following:

Antiochos III (223-187) : 7 exemplaires.

2. Suse : 16.89, ->, pl. IV (coll. Houghton).

Au droit, l'un des fanons du diadème paraît se relever derrière la tête et la bordure est formée d'un grènetis. Au revers, à g. ext. --, à dr. ext. -- (monograms-jg) Í grènetis. Cette pièce constitue une variété nouvelle. Le monogramme de g. peut être rapproché de celui qui figure sur le tétradrachme susien du trésor de Failaka, cf. Suse, p. 53. Le monogramme de dr. rappelle celui de monnaies de bronze frappées à Suse sous Séleucos II ou Séleucos III, cf. Suse, p. 52, n° 27. Le non-ajustement des coins et la présence d'un grènetis au droit et au revers sont habituels à Suse à cette époque.

In Houghton/Lorber (part I, Vol. I, p. 357) they note that "Antiochus III commemorated his recovery of Susa with an issue of gold staters and by the addition of a horn to his portrait on both silver and bronze." This coin does bear the small horn above the ear and thus likely dates the coin to circa BCE 220-211/208 possibly.

On page 101 of the CSE (1983) Houghton states the following about the history of the mint of Susa:

Shortly after the assertion of his claim to rule the empire of Alexander in the east, and possibly in connection with his eastern campaigns, Seleucus I began issuing coins in his own name at Susa, which he renamed Seleucia on the Eulaeus. Thereafter Susa struck continuously as a Seleucid mint until the occupation of the city by the Elymaean ruler Kamnaskires I c. 147 B.C. Demetrius II regained Susa, issuing a brief coinage of tetradrachms c. 145 B.C. before the city was retaken by Kamnaskires. It fell briefly under Parthian rule, then was occupied c. 130 B.C. by Antiochus VII before finally falling to the Parthians.

photo (from plate 63) and excerpt (from p. 105) from CSE (1983) for this coin.

Greece/Calabria; Taras [Tarentum] BCE 302-228

AR Obol, 11 mm, 0.43 g

Vlasto 1659 (this coin), the plate photo is quite poor, though the obverse is precisely the same the reverse is weak probably due to the fact that it was a poor cast and it appears that most if not all the photos in Vlasto are based on casts not the actual coins. The positioning of the kantharos on the reverse is the same as on the actual coin. Ravel does not note the dot in the field or the aplustre for the simple fact that they did not transfer when cast for some reason. This is the most likely explanation.

O: kantharos, letters in right field
R: kantharos, dot in right field, aplustre in left field

Ex: Michel P. Vlasto (1874-1936) Collection
Ex: Den of Antiquity (UK)

Acquisition: 2008

Photo of M. P. Vlasto from the frontispiece of Descriptive Catalogue of The Collection of Tarentine Coins formed by M. P. Vlasto, compiled by Oscar E. Ravel (reprint 1977)

Click on the link below to see an example of a nice Southern Italian Kantharos like those depicted on this obol: http://www.hixenbaugh.net/gallery/detail.cfm?itemnum=3252

Greece/Macedon; Mende c. 500 BCE

AR Partitioned Tetradrachm, 8.48 g; 19 x 14mm (cf. illustration below for full Tet.)

O: Ithyphallic ass stg l crow perched r on his back pecking at his rump.
R: Five incuse triangles arranged in “mill sail” pattern.

Price & Waggoner 195-203 cf, BMC 5, 1

Ex: Asyut Hoard (part of the group not pictured in the corpus); cf. below
Ex: W.P. Wallace Collection.
Ex: Dr. Paul Rynearson Collection (CA)

Acquisition: 2008

The Asyut (ancient Lycopolis) Hoard, 300 km S of Cairo, was found in 1969.
It was buried according to Price c. BCE 475 it is IGCH 1644 (according to CH IX, 680 the deposition is now thought to be BCE 475-470 with 900 AR deposited, all dispersed. The citations appearing in the CH series are IGCH 1644, CH 2.17, CH 4.11, CH 8.44 besides CH 9.680)Contents: 869+ AR, many fragmented and chiseled; found with 3+ AR ingots.

The Asyut Hoard, discovered in 1969 in Egypt, comprised the largest hoard to date of Archaic Greek coins. In addition to its size, it is also important for the wide variety of Greek types represented, indicating a broad network of trade in the eastern Aegean in the time between the late Archaic and early Classical periods. http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=31096


17 Tetradrachms from Mende were recorded.

According to CH VIII; 44, “study of cut fragments including three of Neapolis staters additional to the published record” was produced by P. Rynearson in SAN XII.4 (1981-1982), pp. 71-73. (this coin illustrated as #4 in article) The actual title of the article was “Partitioned Coins: Hoard Evidence For Fractional Denominations?”

drawing of the tetradrachm before partitioning. from Catalogue of Greek Coins; Macedonia etc., by B. V. Head ( London; 1879, p. 80)