Tetradrachm of Demetrius I Soter

I've been wanting a piece of affordable big Greek silver for some time now, and just recently was I able to finally purchase one for my collection. I didn't really intend it as a Christmas gift to myself when I bought it but hey, it might as well be! It hasn't arrived yet but I hope the postal gods, in the spirit of the holidays, will be kind enough to have it arrive safely even though I posted it early.

I wasn't seriously picky on what kind of city or culture my Greek silver had to come from, as long as it was Greek of course and within my budget, so I settled on Seleucid. I also wanted something with a nice, large 3D-looking bust. This tetradrachm of Demetrius I Soter fit the bill for me. As I've mentioned numerous times, ancient Greek isn't one of my major areas, so I feel like I just jumped into the deep end of the pool here for the first time with this rather pricey purchase. I think, despite a couple of minor rough spots, that it is an attractive coin, and I hope that you do as well.

The coin has a little bit of provenance. Before I found it on VCoins recently, it sold through CNG in 2011, and it was part of the Stephen Glover Collection. Apparently he had a number of Seleucid coins that sold in that same year. Does anyone know or have any info on this Stephen Glover? All I was able to come up with was a 19th century antiquarian and a British journalist born in the 50s.

Demetrius I Soter, Seleucid Empire
AR tetradrachm
Obv: Diademed head right, within wreath
Rev: BASILEWS DHMHTRIOU, Tyche holding scepter and cornucopia, seated left on throne supported by tritoness, monogram to outer left
Mint: Antioch
Date:161-150 BC
Size: 32 mm, 16 gr
Ref: SC 1634
Provenance: Ex Stephen Glover Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 264)



Facts on Demetrius

Demetrius I was born in 185 BC.

In his youth, Demetrius was sent as a hostage to Rome by his father, Seleucus IV.

As a young man, Demetrius returned to Syria to defeat the usurper Antiochus V, and he claimed the throne in 161 BC.

During his reign as basileus, Demetrius went to war in 160 BC against the Maccabees, a Jewish group that rebelled in Judaea, then part of the Seleucid Empire. He managed to achieve victory and quell the rebellion.

He also liberated the Babylonians from the tyrant Timarchus. This act gave him title of Soter, meaning "Savior". Demetrius also was able to defeat the king of Cappadocia.

With the victories he acquired, Demetrius was able to reunite the Seleucid Empire.

Demetrius married his sister Laodice, and together they had three sons.

A brother of the defeated Timarchus, Heracleides, conspired with Alexander Balas (who claimed to be a son of Demetrius's uncle, Antiochus IV), the Roman Senate, and the Jews to bring about the downfall of Demetrius. Balas and the Jews managed to kill Demetrius in 150 BC, and Balas then became the Seleucid king.



Hatra, a Seleucid city:



Seleucid soldiers:

 

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Excellent coin and a nice write up too! Great choice for a big greek silver. Seleukid coins have some of the nicest busts in my opinion anyway. Great pick up man!

 

Go big, or go home. I see you went 'big'. Nicely done.

 

Congrats! Nice toning and details on that one. I especially love the winged tritoness as part of the throne design.

 

Very good post! Love the coin too.

 

Thanks for the cool write-up and awesome OP-addition ... congrats!

Ummm, there was another recent thread with this dude, no?

=> I only have this AE example to toss into your fine thread ...

Demetrios I (Seleukid King) Serratus AE17



... man, this ancient coin-stuff never gets old, eh?



Merry Christmas, Jango (it has been awesome coining with you during the past 5 or 6 years => good times, my loyal coin-friend)

 

Great coin and even better research!

 

Thanks all! Can't wait to have this in hand.

 

That Angus McBride artwork is excellent!

 

Thanks Steve! Can't imagine the forum without you (or without some others here). Jeez, hard to believe its been that long! How time flies! Started collecting ancients at 19 and here I am now just about to turn 25 next month. Its been a great ride so far

 

I wonder if @Ardatirion would know who Stephen Glover is/was?

 

Keep up the research and the hunt. Merry Christmas VK. You and Steve are among the best here. I envy you. Cheers and sincere feelings to all of you, just a few days before the new year.

 

Demetrius I Soter tetradrachm? Man, I wish I had one too.

Does a drachm count at all?
Demetrius I Soter
AR Drachm

 

You don't have to ask that! Of course it counts! Nice one.

 

Ah the tactile joys of big Seleucid silver!

 

Now I really can't wait to have it in hand! And then I'll flip it and have a stare-down with the bust

 

nice,
and why does the Galatian Infantry guy look like he is painted silver??

 

Uhm, it's a mask. Greek and Roman calvarymen wore masks in addition to helmets. I guess some ground troops wore masks too.



You'll never see these masks in your high budget Hollywood movies because they don't want to obscure the faces of their actors. If I was a director and some actor cost the studio 20 million dollars, I'd want his face showing up on screen too as much as possible, which is why most people don't know about the use of masks in ancient warfare.

 

He's wearing a mask, like Mr. Heavy Cavalryman in the second soldier photo.

Post edit: Sallent beat me to it.

 

I remember they had Maximus/Russell Crowe wear one for a little while in the arena in Gladiator, but besides that I don't remember seeing too many masks in any of films/shows set in ancient times that I've seen, if any.

Edit: nevermind it was a regular helmet that covered most of his face.