Greece/Seleucid; Philip I Philadelphus BCE c. 95/4-perhaps 76/5

AR Tetradrachm, 25 mm, 14.58g., Antioch or another Eastern mint, lifetime of Philip or posthumous.

SC 2464c

O: diademed hd of Philip I r., with bulging eyes and pouting lips, and an especially pronounced aquiline nose. diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border.

R: Zeus std l., holding Nike and sceptre, laurel wreath border. [ΒΑ]ΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ΦΙΛΙΠΠO[Y] in two lines on the r., ΕΠΙΦAΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦO[Y] in two lines on l.

Primary Control: T in ex.
Frozen control under throne.

cf. SC II pp. 604-605 for further info on this type.

Tantalus ID#35515

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus IX Cyzicenus BCE 114/3-95

AE 18 mm, 6.0 g, Antioch mint, BCE 113-112/SE 200

SC 2364.2b

O: diad hd of Antiochus IX r, with short curly beard, one diad end waving up behind, the other falling forward over shoulder, dotted border.

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines on r., ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ on l., winged thunderbolt placed vertically.

Dated: Σ= SE 200 inner bottom left.

Controls: N with line above.
Symbol: aphlaston

Roman Egypt, Vespasian CE 69-79

AE Hemidrachm, 28.9 mm, 12.297 g, Alexandria mint, LA= July CE 69-August CE 69

Dattari 396 (this coin), Geissen 271, BMC Alexandria p. 32, 269; Emmett 211 (R4)

obverse AΥΤ TIT ΦΛΑΥΙ OΥEΣΠΑΣΙΑΝ KAIΣ, laureate head right, date L A (year 1) before;

reverse bust of Nilus right, wreathed with papyrus, cornucopia on left shoulder


EX: Giovanni Dattari (1853-1923) Collection author of Numi Augg. Alexandrini. (Cairo, 1901)

Ex: Colisseum Coin Exchange

Ex: Forum Ancient Coins

Greece/Seleucid; Demetrius II Nikator (First Reign) BCE 146-138

AR Drachm, 3.88 g, 17 mm, Seleucia on the Tigris mint, BCE 145-July 141 (when the city fell to the Parthians)

SC 1986.1

O: Diad. hd of Demetrius II r., diadem ends falling straight behind, fillet border.
Obverse Control Behind Hd

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗMHTPIOY in two lines on the r., ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦOY NIKATOPOΣ in two lines on l., Zeus enthroned l., holding eagle and sceptre.

Tantalus ID#35516

Greece/Seleucid; Alexander I Balas BCE 152-145

AR Drachm, 17 mm, 3.86 g, Antioch mint, c. SE 166 or BCE 147/6

SC 1785.13a (reference Hirsch 168, 22 Nov 1990, lot 342)

O: Diademed hd of Alexander I r., clean shaven or with sideburn, diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ in two lines on r., ΘΕΟΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY in two lines on l., Apollo std l., on omphalos, testing arrow and resting hand on grounded bow.

Controls in ex., primary on left.

EX: CNG EA 213 (01 July 2009), portion of lot 581, CNG noted that all coins had find patinas. All were average VF. (though this piece has some nicks and scratches and a small flan crack at 10 o'clock on the O).

Tantalus ID#35517

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus IV Philopator BCE 187-175

AE 19 mm serratus, 6.98 g , Antioch mint.

SC 1316.2

O: draped bust of Dionysus r., wreathed with ivy, thyrsus over shoulder dotted border.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above., ΣΕΛΕΥKOY below, filleted prow l., with railing, acrostolion, spar, ram and eye ornament, dotted border

Obverse control: A/B behind head.
Reverse control: indeterminate

Acquisition: 2009

Greece/Seleucid; Seleucus II Callinicus BCE 246-226

AE 19 mm, 7.84 g , Δ/ΕΛ mint associated with Antioch

SC 713.1a, WSM 1169

O: helmeted hd of Athena r., dotted border.
R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ on r., ΣΕΛΕΥKOY on l., Nike stg. l., holding wreath and palm branch

Primary control: Δ/ΕΛ inner left above.
Secondary control: none

Acquisition: 2009

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus VIII Epiphanes BCE 121-96

AE 19 mm, 6.33 g, Antioch mint (Third Reign at Antioch) BCE 109-96

SC 2313.1a variety

O: diad. Hd of Antiochus VIII r. diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border

R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r, ΕΠΙΦ[ΑΝΟVΣ ]on l., filleted double cornucopiae. Control on outer left (off flan) and no other discernable marks.

Acquisition: 2009

Greece/Cilicia; Mopsos c. First Century BCE

AE 16 mm, 4.24 g, 12 h, beveled edge.

SNG Levante 1306 

O: beardless, diademed hd r. (portrait appears similar to that of Antiochus IX from Tarsus cf. SC 2354).

R: unadorned Tripod with MOΨΣEATΩN/THΣIEΡAΣ in two rows on right and KAI AΥTONOMOΥ  in two rows on left and in ex a monogram.

cf. the following link http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=24565q00.jpg&vpar=85&zpg=23566&fld=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/ for a similar example that is about half the weight but is the same generally in appearance as well as epigraphy.

 Also please note the additional link of http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=661&category=14579&lot=669515 which notes that this piece is R.

Much thanks to Oliver Hoover for identifying this piece which I had previously identified as a Seleucid imitative (which it may still be in my opinion, though dates from around the 50's BCE after the demise of the Seleucid state). 

Acquisition: 2009

Greece/Seleucid; Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus c. BCE 94/3

AE 21 mm, 8.29 g, 12h, Antioch mint

SC 2442

O: Diademed hd of Antiochus XI r, bearded, diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOV in two lines on r., EΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦOV in two lines on l., Athena stg. l. holding Nike outside inscription and resting hand on grounded shield, spear propped in crook of elbow.

Control: outer l. above bunch of grapes (which are off flan).

Tantalus ID#35518

Here was a link to an example, the only one located on Coinarchives regarding this type, sold by Elsen in 2007: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=188913&AucID=243&Lot=385

As of 07-15-09, Link is no longer active without membership to Coinarchives Pro. Coin can be viewed at Petr Veselỳ's site (cf. links). Coin brought about € 950, which was about $1,317 at the time. Peter Veselỳ's site link for these coins is: http://www.seleukidtraces.info/collection/antiochos_xi#fn_elsen_93_385

And a link to an example sold by CNG in 2008: http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=133920

Example from BMC Seleucid (1878)


My example as well as one other are featured at Wildwinds: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/seleucia/antiochos_XI/t.html

The example shown in SMA appears to be different from the BMC example though the photo is poor. According to SC there are other examples SNG Fitzwilliam 5820 and in the T. Miller Collection as well. Unfortunately, the SNG on line identifies 5820 as a tet of Demetrius III, and identifies 5819 as Antiochus XI though it is in fact a bronze of Antiochus X [SC 2432 v](note link): http://www.s110120695.websitehome.co.uk/SNG/sng_reply2a.php?verb=SNGuk_0408_5819

The ANS lists a bronze as Antiochus XI, though from the description it appears to be an Antiochus VIII from the inscription. The coin reference is ANS 1992.54.2151

There are three examples listed in the Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection; University of Glasgow, III weighing in at 7.419 g, 7.9 g and 8.42 g respectively. They do not appear to be plated in the catalogue, though are described as "slightly bearded".


In Anatolian Studies, Vol. 23, Aşvan 1968-1972: An Interim Report (1973), pp. 187-190, Anthony McNicoll writes of a find that was identified as "?Antiochus XI", but is clearly an Antiochus VIII likely SC 2318 example.


This raises the census to 9 (?) of the SC 2442 variety. Likely more out there?
Update 9 April 2015- An online auction Solidus Numismatik On-line Auktion 5 (26 April 2015) has an example  LOT 111 identified as SC 2442 but may be the beardless variety.  It is 21mm and 9.44g. This appears to be heavier than the previously recorded examples by about a gram.

Greece; Seleucid; Antiochus IX Cyzicenus BCE 114/3-95

enlargement below:

AR Obol, 8 mm, 0.55 g, Samaria mint before BCE 108

SC 2394 v., SNG Spaer 2763, CSE II 781

O: diad. hd of Antiochus IX r. with short curly beard, diadem ends falling straight behind, dotted border.

R: BAΣI reading downward on r., [AN ΦI] reading upward on l. (off flan). Athena stg., l., holding Nike and resting hand on shield, spear behind, dotted border.

EX: Heritage World Coin Auction, Signature Sale 357 (9 September 2004) lot 12020 [Seleukid Kingdom. Antiochos IX Kyzikenos. 114/3-96/5 B.C. AR obol (8 mm, 0.55 g). Uncertain southern mint, perhaps in Coele-Syria. Diademed head right / Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand, spear in left; shield resting against her. SNG Spaer 2763-4; G. Macdonald, "Seltene und unedierte Seleukidenmünzen," ZfN (1912), p. 89. Toned, good VF. Extremely rare.]

In Macdonald’s article from 1912, the type was considered “neu”, but as Arthur Houghton wrote in AJN 12 (2000) in his very interesting note “A Mint of Antiochus IX at Samaria-Sebaste?” that “…the author is personally aware of the existence of…at least sixteen obols, most of which have appeared in the last decade.”(p. 108)

Acquisition: 2009

Tantalus ID#35519