The Seleukid Empire was in turmoil, Antiochos VIII his uncle Antiochos VII died fighting the Parthians. His father Demetrios II Nikator, who was captured by the Parthians, was released. He claimed the throne but was soon killed by the pretender Alexander II Zabinas. His mother, Cleopatra Thea, a powerful Seleukid queen, having married three Seleukid kings bearing children from all of them, made a civil war inevitable. First, she assassinated her oldest son Seleukos V in 125 BC, the rightful heir of the throne, as she was afraid he would find out that she was involved in the death of his father Demetrios II Nikator. Territory of the Seleukid Empire somewhere around this period (124 BC), heavy loss of ground to the Parthians. Antiochos VIII then was the next heir and ruled with her mother Cleopatra Thea, killing the pretender Alexander Zabinas somewhere in 123 BC. Next, in 121 BC her mother wanted to assassinate him with poisoned wine, being suspicious, the king let her mother drink the wine first, and she died... Happy family. Antiochos VIII now is the sole ruler of the Seleukid Empire. However this is not the end, but just the beginning. A half-brother of Antiochos VIII, called Antiochos IX, who was the son of Antiochos VII with Cleopatra Thea, was sent by her mother to Kyzikos. After his mother died he ofcourse also saw himself as the rightful heir. In 114/3 BC he started heading back to Syria, and drove his brother Antiochos VIII out of the 'capital' Antioch. Antiochos VIII was compelled to seek refuge in the Pamphylian city of Aspendos. Antiochos IX reigned independently in the fall of the same year until the summer of 112 BC, where Antiochos VIII returned and deposed him again. Antiochos VIII ruled for another 2 years, losing it once more to his brother in the year 110/109 BC. He immediately returned the same year and held Antioch until he was assassinated by the general Herakleon in 97/6 BC. In this third reign, Antiochos VIII struck these coins in Antioch, most likely for military needs: Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) (121/0-97/6 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm. 3rd reign at Antioch, ca. 109-96 B.C. Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos VIII to right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - EΠIΦANOYΣ Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and scepter in his left; to left, monogram of PE above A; below throne, monogram; all within laurel wreath. Reference: SC 2309.2d. 16.07g; 27mm After his death his place at Antioch was again taken up by Antiochos IX, who reigned there for only a year, until circa 96/95 B.C. In that 1 year, Antiochos IX struck these coins at Antioch: Antiochos IX Eusebes Philopator (Kyzikenos), 114/3-95 BC. AR Tetradrachm. 3rd reign at Antioch, ca. 96-95 B.C. Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos IX to right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - ΦΙΛΟΠATOPOΣ Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; to outer left and below throne, monograms; all within laurel wreath. Reference: SC 2369.1a. 16.17g; 28mm He was then killed by his nephew, the son of Antiochos VIII, who wanted to avenge his father. This is also only just the beginning, a whole civil war starts after this, involving all of Antiochos IX and Antiochos VIII their sons: Antiochos X, Antiochos XI, Antiochos XII, Demetrios III, Seleukos VI and Philip I. I am glad to have these two new tetradrachms, there seems some kind of new hoard is discovered as they are flooding the market together with Philip I and Antiochos X tetradrachms. Please share your relevant coins!
..i'm tellin' ya....those Antiochuss'..they do it everytime! >< (the family that rules together duels together)
Interesting Antiochos IX Pavlos. Actually at one time this issue of Antiochos IX was reasonably scarce. That was before a large number of these coins hit the market in the last two Leu sales. In fact I was quite shocked at how many of these coins were being offered at one time. I got mine in 2017 from a CNG E Auction misidentified as an Antiochos X. However this is, until recently the more common image of Antiochos IX Antiochos IX Ar tetradrachm Antioch 113-112 BC Obv Head right diademed wearing a slight beard Rv, Athena standing left holding Nike. SC 2363a This coin illustrated HGC 1228i This coin illustrated. 16.71 grms 28 mm photo by W. Hansen This coin I purchased in 2003 long before either book was published.
Great write up on a prelude to a bloodbath with some stunningtets along the way! Cleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII Epiphanes 125-121 BCE Ake-Ptolemaïs mint, Dated S.E. 188 (125/4 B.C.) Jugate heads of the Dioscuri right, star above each / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΠΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, cornucopia. SC -; SNG Spaer -; Kadman 17. Very Rare. Antiochos IX 114/3-95 BCE Æ Damascus mint, or in Phoenicia, year 202 (111/0 BC). Winged bust of Eros r. R/ Nike advancing l., holding wreath; date to l. SC 2388.2; HGC 9
Very nice tetradrachms and article with map, @Pavlos! Here's a bronze of Antiochus VIII with an eagle reverse: Seleukid Kingdom. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos), (121-96 BC). AE (19 mm. 5.88 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Dated year 192 = 121-120 BC. Diademed and radiate head right. / [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦ[ΑΝΟΥΣ], eagle standing left with scepter over right shoulder, IE in outer left field, BP(retrograde)P (date) and [ivy leaf] in exergue. SC 2300.1e; HGC 9, 1212; DCA 279.
Thanks @Andres2! Nice tetradrachms from Demetrios II and Antiochos VII! In many empires, the decline was almost always due to internal structural problems. When resources are spend to fight each other, an enemy gladly takes profit out of that, in this case the Roman and Parthian empires. Thank you @happy_collector! First of all, a wonderful tetradrachm you got there! Indeed, these two coins are from Leu as well, some kind of hoard most have been discovered, tons of Antiochos VIII, Antiochos IX, Demetrios III and Philip I tetradrachms were recently sold. The Antiochos IX type I got from his 3rd reign is actually quite rare, or better said it was quite rare. I barely saw any examples for sale until the last Leu auction, I gladly toke profit of it. A quick search: Before the last Leu auction, only 23 examples were sold of that type the past ~10 years. In 1 auction almost 50 examples were sold. Indeed a shock. Thank you @Ryro! I really like your coin with the Jugate heads. Thanks, a nice and clear example you got there from Antiochos VIII!
Nice examples! Quite a number of Tyrian tetradrachms have been listed on eBay over the past year or so, comprised of Antiochus VII Sidetes and Demetrius II. As a general rule these coins are not as nicely struck as those produced at Antioch and they tend to be somewhat crude. They were also produced at the Tyrian weight standard, which approximates shekel weight. This is a tetradrachm of Antiochus VII Sidetes, father of Antiochus IX Eusebes Cyzicenus. Seleucid Empire, 130-129 BCE Tetradrachm Antiochus VII Sidetes (138–129 BCE) Tyre Mint OBVERSE: Bust of Antiochus VII. REVERSE: Eagle on prow, left: club; Greek: BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXOY, ΓΠP ([coin of] king Antiochus, dated SE 183). Some die rust and flaws on the reverse to lower right of eagle. Good VF SC 2109.11b 14.0 grams
Instead of showing the same AR here are some AE. Cleopatra/Antiochos VIII Mint: Antioch Year 190, 123/122 BC Obvs: Radiate diademed head of Antiochus VIII right, dotted border. Revs: BAΣΙΛΙΣΣHΣ KΛEoΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, owl standing facing on fallen amphora. qp and star in ex AE 19mm, 5.7g Ref: SNG Isr 2445; SC 2263.2h; HGC 9, 1189(S) Antiochus IX Unknown mint 122 in Phoenicia, Northern Syria, or Coele Denomination D 114 to 95 BC Obvs: Head of Athena right in crested helmet, fillet border. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ, prow right. AE 14x15mm, 1.92g Ref: SC 2378.1; HGC 9, 1262(R2) Antiochus X Antioch on the Orontes 94 BC Obvs: Diademed and bearded head of Antiochus right. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOV EVΣEBOYΣ ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ, Nike advancing left holding wreath. AE 15x17mm, 4.86g Ref: SC 2433; HGC 9, 1293(R2-3) Demetrios III Mint: Damascus Year 217, 96 to 95 BC Obvs: Demetrios III right diademed radiate and bearded. Revs: BA⊂IΛEΩ⊂ ΔHMHTPIOV ΘEOV ΦIΛOΠATOPO⊂ ⊂ΩTHPO⊂, Nike holding wreath and palm within dotted border. Year Iǀϵ below, Δǀ above N outer left. AE 19x20mm, 5.97g SC 2454.4; HGC 9, 1309(C-S) Seleucus VI 95 to 94 BC Mint: Antioch Obvs: Diademed and beardless right. Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEVKOV EΠIΦANOVE NIKATOPOΣ, Apollo resting elbow on column and testing arrow. Branch in exergue AE 19mm, 7.91g SC 2425.2a; HGC 9, 1284(R2) Tetradrachms of Antiochus X were hard to come by more than 5 years ago, now I see at least one a month on average. A lot seem to come from the same source especially the coins of Philip. No such coin exists for Epiphanes, those are autonomous.
Thank you @robinjojo and a nice coin! Indeed, a lot of these Tyrian tetradrachms are being sold on Ebay from Israel. There do are some artistic artists at Tyre though! Alexander I (Balas). 152/1-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Tyre mint. Dated SE 167 (146/5 BC). Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Alexander Balas right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (“of King Alexander”). Eagle standing left on prow of galley, palm-branch over right shoulder; club surmounted by monogram to left, ΙΞΡ (date) and monogram to right. Reference: SNG Spaer 1545-1546; Newell, Tyre 79; Houghton 749. 13.73g (Phoenician standard) Great selection of bronze coins David, thanks for sharing. That Seleukos VI is great, I do not see them very often.
Excellent write-up and coins. I have an Antiochos VIII to show, similar to one presented by @David@PCC . I find this coin very pleasant, especially the reverse. SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2 Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm. Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY SC 2263.2f. 6,66 g, 20mm
Pavlos, Excellent article with two handsome coins ! I think it's the nature of brothers who are close in age to compete & battle with each other, with restraint of course . Having had a twin brother I know this first hand . Henry & I used to fight often while growing-up over the most stupid things, physically trying to hurt each other . This carried over into early adulthood . Keeping a far distance from each other was the solution . The Romans had their fair share of "battling brothers" too, the most famous being Caracalla & Geta. Carrhae-Mesopotamia, Caracalla, AD 215-217. Billon Tetradrachm: 27 mm, 14.72 gm. Prieur 820. Antioch-Syria, Geta, AD 209-211. Billon Tetradrachm: 27 mm, 14,44 gm, McAlee 719.
