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