With a few new Macedonian shield coins joining the harum, I had to separate the Antigonids and now the Seleucids from my Diadochi board. Pretty pleased purple with my Billie the Seleu-kid board! Only one problem...NEED MORE COINS! My 3 latest Antiochos l Soter'pops appear to be 3 of the same coins. But each has its differences from the others. Part of what makes these coins so fun is trying to figure out what those differences signify. I know it is often referred to as "fly specking", though, I don't know if that is the an accurate description when the tiny difference may signify the mint, changing of a ruler or WHO knows what!? Antiochos I Soter Shield with Anchor Æ20 6.09 grams 20mm Obv. Macedonian shield with Anchor motif Rv. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY Above and below elephant walking right OME monogram (obscured by Anchor counter stamp) and club above Jaw bone of boar in exergue BMC 37 Former fvrivs.rvfvs Antiochos I Soter 281-261 BC. Æ (19mm, 5.56 g, 1h). Antioch mint. Anchor on boss of Macedonian shield / Elephant standing right; monogram and [club] above, jawbone in exergue. SC 341; HGC 9, 195. VF, earthen green patina. Ex: Ares Antiochos I Soter Antioch. 281-261 BCE. Bronze Æ 19mm., 5,80g. Macedonian shield with Seleukid anchor in central boss / Elephant walking right; monogram and club above, jawbone in exergue. very fine SC 339.3; HGC 9, 148. Ex: Zeus As always, I would love to see your coins and read your thoughts!
Nice coins of my favorite Seleucid monarch! I particularly like the 1st and 3rd coins that you have. Fun fact, Antiochus I indirectly won the battle of Ipsus in 301 when he was routed by Demetrius and Pyrrhus, thus allowing his father to create an elephant screen to block them from falling upon the coalition’s phalanx. Antiochus I Soter Tetradrachm SC 379.3c; HGC 9 16.73 g SELEUCID KINGDOM. Antiochus II Theos (261-246 BC). AR tetradrachm (32mm, 16.99gm, 12h). Phocaea. Diademed head of Antiochus I right, elderly to middle ages, with full hair and aquiline nose; dotted border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANT-IOXOY, Apollo seated left on omphalus, testing arrow in right hand, left hand on grounded bow to right behind; forepart of griffin left in upper, outer left field, A(PT) monogram in outer right field. SC 508. Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives. Pleasant medium gray old collection toning. Extreme high relief.
My personal opinion: I love that Antiochus I was half Iranian by way of his mother. The Macedonians of Seleucus’s generation we’re fairly prejudiced against Iranians. A good example of this is that a large contingent of the Macedonian army voted to have a mentially disabled pure Macedonian(Philip III) be king rather than the half Iranian son of Alexander. It’s nice to see Seleucus didn’t fit that mold and was forward thinking on that issue.
Until looking at that map just now, I didn't realize their empire extended so far east. I typically imagined the Seleucids as a more Levantine sort of thing, though I did know they stretched out beyond the Mediterranean some. I sure like their coins.
All 3 are variations of the same type. The 2nd one is also SC 339.... You can attribute yourself here Here are some shield Antiochus I Mint: Antioch AE 14 281 to 261 BC Obvs: Macedonian shield with Seleukid anchor in central boss. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Horned elephant walking right. ME monogram and club above, jawbone in exergue. 18x19mm, 6.37g Ref: SC 339.4; HGC 9, 148(S) Note: Counter mark above elephant Antiochus I Mint: Uncertain #23 in Eastern Syria or Mesopotamia 281 to 261 BC Obvs: Shield with tripod as central device. Dotted Border. Revs: BAΣI on r., ANTI on l. Bow in case within dotted border. 11x13mm, 2.63g Ref: SC 373; HGC 9, 201(R3) Antiochus I Mint: Uncertain #23 in Eastern Syria or Mesopotamia 281 to 261 BC Obvs: Tripod on round shield Revs: BA on r., AN on l. Arrowhead 8mm, 0.70g Ref: SC 375
Whole heartedly agree. I've always wanted to visit the middle east, esp Iran! Whatever his motives, ATG highly recommended Persian women to his Macedonian men.
Once Gupta came along in and battled it out with them 305-303, the Seleukids would never be so far east...
Nice catch! I was mistaken on the second being SC 241. Though, again, it has a unique variation. It appears that stunning 339 of yours is listed as having the Seleucid anchor counter mark. But it doesn't. Only the usual monogram above the BAΣIΛEΩΣ above an amazingly artistic elephant! LOVE the second coin and just lost out on the same type as your third coin at auction Though, here's a nice arrow head that I recently won from Frank Robinson:
First of all great Seleukid coin shields Ryro! And a nice Epeirote coin It has been a long time since I showed my coins from Epeiros here on the forum, I got quite some new additions. This is mine:
