Seleucid boat coins

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Pavlos, Oct 21, 2018.

  1. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    I picked up some boat coins from the Seleucid Empire, I thought it might make a nice little set. One of the boat coins is quite rare, it is a quasi-municipal type and hard to find in good condition with full visible inscription (and boat).

    Quasi-municipal coins are coins which bear the portrait of the governing king as a sign of his sovereign royal authority but his name is replaced or complemented by the name and often the type of the issuing city.

    (Note: I made the pictures myself, let me know your opinion and advice about them).

    [​IMG]
    Antiochos VII Euergetes (138 B.C. - 129 B.C) Bronze coin, quasi-municipal type. Tyre Mint, 136/5 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Diademed head of Antiochos VII right.
    Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΤΥΡΙΩΝ. Galley left; ΞΟΡ (date: S.E. 177 = 136/5 B.C.) above.
    Reference: SC 2112; SNG Spaer 2035-8; Newell, Tyre 147; Hoover 1092.

    Interesting they used in the inscription "ΙΕΡΑΣ" meaning holy or sacred. Sacred Tyre.

    [​IMG]
    Seleukos IV Philopator (187 B.C. - 175 B.C.) Serrated Bronze Coin. Antioch mint.
    Obverse:
    Wreathed and draped bust of Dionysos right, thyrsos over shoulder.
    Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛEΩΣ ΣΕΛΕYΚΟΥ. Prow of galley left; control marks above (off flan?).
    Reference: SC 1316; HGC 9, 586.

    [​IMG]
    Demetrios II Nikator (146 B.C. - 138 B.C) (1st reign) Bronze Coin. Tyre mint, 144/3 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Diademed head of Demetrios II right.
    Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTΡIOY TYΡIΩN, of Tyre in Phoenician. Stern of galley left; ΘΞΡ (date: SE 169 = 144/3 B.C.) above.
    Reference: SC 1968.3; HGC 9, 1000; DCA 171.

    This one is interesting because of the Phoenician inscription below, which was quite common for civic issues, but I did not know it also happened on issues from the king. Also, very cool patina!

    I also picked up this Ptolemy I Obol (my first Ptolemy coin).


    [​IMG]
    Ptolemy I Soter Bronze Obol (305 B.C. - 282 B.C). Alexandria mint.
    Obverse:
    Head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin headdress.
    Reverse: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ. Eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt. π/ϒ monogram to left.
    Reference: Svoronos 220; SNG Copenhagen 52.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2018
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  3. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Those port cities had some interesting types.
    g077.jpg
    Demetrios I
    Tyre
    154 BC
    Obvs: Demitrios diademed right.
    Revs: War galley stern terminating forward in volute. L QNP in field, IrS in ex.
    AE 20mm, 6.4g
    SC 1672.2

    g284.jpg
    Demetrios II, SECOND REIGN
    Mint: Sidon
    Year 186, 127/126 BC
    Obvs: Diademed and draped bust of Demetrios II right beardless within dotted border, B behind.
    Revs: ΣIΔΩNOΣ ΘEAΣ in two lines to left, Phoenician script to right "of the Sidonians". Astarte on prow left holding asphlaston and naval trophy. ζΠΡ to right.
    AE 18x19mm, 4.60g
    Ref: SNG Spaer 2215; SC 2189.8; HGC 10, 1137(R2)

    g134.jpg
    Seleucus IV
    Antioch
    187 to 175 BC
    Obvs: Dionysos right ivy crowned, thyrsos behind shoulder.
    Revs: BAΣIΛIEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Forepart of galley left. M above
    AE 20mm serrate, 7.1g
    Ref: SNG Isr.126.887, SC 2 1316.4
     
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  4. Chris B

    Chris B Supporter! Supporter

    My only one that fits the subject:

    Egypt Seleukos IV 01.jpg

    SELEUKID KINGS
    Seleukos IV Philopator
    187-175 BC
    Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy
    prow of galley left.
    19mm, 7.14g

    Sear 6970
     
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  5. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Great pics! And cool coins:cool:
    Here's one that I absolutely brutalized to get any semblance of IDability (it was a black rock when I purchased it).
    CollageMaker Plus_20184618347230.png
    I believe it's: Demetrius ii
    Obv: Facing bust
    Rev: galley right, Phoenician inscription above and below
     
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  6. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    I actually have something that fits this:

    Anc-03-HKS-iea-Demetrios I-AE20-7021.jpg
    Seleucid Empire - Syria
    Demetrios I, r. 162-150 B.C.
    Tyre Mint, AE 20, 19.37 mm x 5.7 grams
    Obv.: Diademed Head Right; Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΔHMHTPIOY. Seleukid date L ΔNP (SE154 - 159/8 B.C.), above stern of galley left, TYPIΩN and Phoenician legend below
    Ref.: SGCV 7021

    I’m not sure if I’ve got that date or the legends right, but that’s my best go at it
     
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  7. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Your coin is Demetrios II, you can tell by the style of the stern. I can't make out the date, your options are:
    LIΞP SE 167
    LHΞP SE 168
    LΘΞP SE 169
    LOP SE 170
    AOP SE 171
    LΓOP SE 172
    Many of the L's are optional. Otherwise it's correct. Reference SC 1968
     
  8. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    Thanks David! I’ll update my records
     
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