Recently, JA offered a beautiful Tet for sale at a fantastic price and I would've jumped at the chance to purchase it----but I had already obligated myself on this example with 'issues' which reduced the expected winning bid to a level more suitable to my dwindling budget---and happily it did. And this is my sneaky way of getting that lucky owner to display their superior version along with mine. Of course, feel free to post all versions you may have of the 'Seleucids' or any related types. Antiochus VII (Euergetes), Antioch Mint 138-129 BC Silver Tet; 15.9 grams, BMC 13 Diademed head right, Athena Standing left, holding spear and shield
Sweet score, Mikey-Z ..... *rats* ... I don't have any silver examples => ummm, but I do have this cool AE example of A8's Antiochos VIII & Kleopatra Thea 125-121 BC Antiochos VIII & Owl
It's a very nice coin indeed. Whatever "issues" these tets have are frequently offset by being big chunks of ancient silver, at least in my opinion. They're always great in hand. The tets of Antiochus VII exhibit many off-center strikes, so what you have there is more the norm than the coin I sold. Since the owner of that coin is yet to receive it, I'll take the liberty of posting it myself, along with the brief history surrounding Antiochus' relationship with the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus... Antiochus VII was the last of the "great" Seleucid kings, ruling from 138 to 129 BC. According to Josephus, the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus paid Antiochus VII a tribute of three thousand talents, directly from King David's sepulchre, in order to spare Jerusalem. The tribute must have worked, because Josephus also records that Antiochus treated the Jews very well, and they themselves bestowed the title "Euergetes" on him, meaning "Benefactor." We don't really know what happened after that event, as Josephus goes silent, and the Book of Maccabees ends before Antiochus' time. However, we do know that Hyrcanus refrained from attacking Seleucid-controlled areas during his rule, and that he even assisted Antiochus in his various campaigns.
lovely big tet MZ! silver tet is high on my list. here's an ugly AE of antiochus vii... this coin is dated, which is cool...the EOP on the reverse. 175 seleucid era, or 138/147 BC.
Hello, Just won a nice coin Crispina from Anazarbos, with a river god on the reverse...very nice heavy bronce I have never seen before, also my personal budget lately is complete lost, I see too many nice items....:-(( what can I do...it is a addiction to hunt for a nice new coin....also bought this night a Tet from Herennia Etruscilla for only 41 eur. Crazy price for a nice one...happy chappy, have to go my bank soon talk about a loan...ahhahahahah
I know what you mean...I'm just about in the same situation LOL Beautiful coin!! I love that 'connect the dots' lettering on the reverse, as JA recently described it, especially since the variation complements my one other Tet of Antiochus III. Nice posts everyone!!!
My other AR Tet---Antiochus III ( 223-187 BC, 16.03 grams) with the Apollo seated on 'Omphalos' reverse.
Here's an earlier tet of Demetrios I, also from a consignor. It's interesting that the off-center strike on the obverse puts the bust perfectly in the center of the coin!
May I add that these tets are bargain tets, it just takes a bit of time to find serious coins at bargain prices, but it is possible.
Here is my beautiful budget tet: SELEUKID KINGDOM Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes) AR Tetradrachm 138-129 BC 16.21 grams, 28 - 30 mm. Obv: Diademed bust facing right Rev: Athena standing holding nike in right hand, monogram below. Holding shield & spear decorated with gorgon face in left hand. BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ANTIOXOY right, EYEPГΕTOY to left of Athena. All within laurel wreath. Grade: VF+ nicely toned. Other: Antiochus VII Euergetes, nicknamed Sidetes (from Side) provided respectful treatment of the Jews which earned him long term gratitude and added name Euergetes (“The Benefactor”).Hoover 1067. From private sale 11/2013.
Not a Tetradrachm, but a small bronze. But even on these they made some beautifull portraits (Antiochus I) :
