Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
A Crumbling Seleucid Empire
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4891167, member: 99456"]My latest coin is a tetradrachm from Antioch with a fabulous Tyche. This coin comes from the beginning of the first century BC as the Seleucid empire was crumbling.</p><p><u><b><br /></b></u></p><p><u><b>Between Egypt & Parthia</b></u></p><p>For some background on the state of the Seleucid empire, and a few additional coins: Ptolemy VI Philometor put Alexander I Balas on the throne in Syria, married to his daughter Cleopatra Thea.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1184047[/ATTACH] Seleukid Kingdom, <b>Alexander I Balas</b>, 152-145 BC, Drachm</p><p><b>Obv: </b>Diademed head of Alexander I to right</p><p><b>Rev:</b> ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ - ΘΕΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ / ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his right on his bow; monogram in exergue</p><p><b>Ref: </b>mint Seleucia on Tigris SC II 1859</p><p><br /></p><p>Ptolemy Vi then backed Demetrius II as he took back his family's throne and he gave Demetrius his daughter, Cleopatra Thea, as part of the bargain. Demetrius was captured by the Parthians (Mithridates I), and his brother, Antiochus VII, took the throne and Cleopatra Thea.</p><p><br /></p><p>Antiochus VII, battled with Parthia to reclaim eastern lands for the Seleucid empire from Mithridates I, only to lose them to Phraates II.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1184121[/ATTACH] </p><p>Seleukid Kings, <b>Antiochos VII Euergetes </b>nicknamed "Sedetes" for his city of origin (138-129 BC), Æ19, 6.15g, Antioch on the Orontes, year 176 (137/6 BC)</p><p><b>Obv:</b> Winged bust of Eros right</p><p><b>Rev: </b>BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY Isis headdress; crescent and star below, IOP in exergue (date)</p><p><br /></p><p>Phraates II released his captive Demetrius II to create confusion, and after Antiochus VII died in battle or killed himself, Demetrius became Seleucid king again. We can only imagine the life of Cleopatra Thea who was married first to pretender to the throne Alexander I Balas, then Demetrius II, then his brother Antiochus VII, and ended up back with Demetrius again ruling over a truncated kingdom. Demetrius II Nicator ruled 130-25 BC and died battling another usurper sponsored by Ptolemy VIII.</p><p><br /></p><p><u><b>Civil Wars</b></u></p><p>For more on this time period, that reads like an episode of a Netflix or HBO drama series, see <a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0230%3Atext%3DSyr.%3Achapter%3D11%3Asection%3D69" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0230%3Atext%3DSyr.%3Achapter%3D11%3Asection%3D69" rel="nofollow">Appian XI.69</a> or Justin <a href="https://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans39.html#2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans39.html#2" rel="nofollow">XXXIX.2-3</a>. I'll wrap up with this:</p><p><br /></p><p>Seleucus V, son of Demetrius, made a play to become king, however his mother, Cleopatra Thea, quickly shot him dead with an arrow. Cleopatra Thea reigned briefly as sole ruler, then became co-regent with her younger son, by Demetrius, Antiochus VIII a.k.a. "Grypus", named for his Γρυπός or "hook-<i>nose</i>". Grypus killed his mother, according to Appian with poison that she had prepared for him. Grypus fought in civil war with his half-brother, "Cyzicenus" and his uncle.</p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><b>The Coin</b></u></p><p>All of this is long-winded context for this coin. The date on my tetradrachm is a "Civic Year" or CY 13 (97/96 BC). This is 13 years that start from 109/8 BC when Grypus granted the city of Seleukia Pieria independence in gratitude for support during his civil war. Here is an excerpt of the letter from Antiochus Gryphos to Ptolemy X referencing this:</p><blockquote><p><br /></p><p>"Now, being anxious to reward them [The people of Seleukeia in Pieria] fittingly with the first [and greatest] benefaction, [we have decided that they be] for all time free, [and we have entered them in the treaties] which we have mutually concluded, [thinking] that thus [our piety and generosity] toward our ancestral city will be more apparent."</p><p>- <a href="http://www.attalus.org/docs/rc/s71.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.attalus.org/docs/rc/s71.html" rel="nofollow">Royal Correspondence: 71</a></p></blockquote><p>[ATTACH=full]1180389[/ATTACH]</p><p>Seleukis and Pieria, Seleukeia Pieria, 105/4-83/2 BC, AR Tetradrachm, 30mm, 14.90g, dated CY 13 (97/96 BC)</p><p><b>Obv: </b>Veiled and turreted bust of Tyche right</p><p><b>Rev: </b>ΣEΛEYKEΩN / THΣ IEPAΣ / KAI / AYTONOMOY, Filleted thunderbolt on throne; <b>ΓI</b> (date = 13) below, monogram (<b>ω</b>/<b>Δ</b>) to lower right; all within wreath.</p><p><b>Ref: </b><a href="https://www.academia.edu/372563/La_production_des_t%C3%A9tradrachmes_civiques_de_la_Cilicie_jusqu_%C3%A0_la_Palestine_%C3%A0_la_fin_du_IIe_et_dans_la_premi%C3%A8re_moiti%C3%A9_du_Ier_s._av._J.-C._Elaiussa_S%C3%A9bast%C3%A9_Aigeai_S%C3%A9leucie-de-Pi%C3%A9rie_Laodic%C3%A9e_Arados_Tripolis_Sidon_Tyr_Ascalon_" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.academia.edu/372563/La_production_des_t%C3%A9tradrachmes_civiques_de_la_Cilicie_jusqu_%C3%A0_la_Palestine_%C3%A0_la_fin_du_IIe_et_dans_la_premi%C3%A8re_moiti%C3%A9_du_Ier_s._av._J.-C._Elaiussa_S%C3%A9bast%C3%A9_Aigeai_S%C3%A9leucie-de-Pi%C3%A9rie_Laodic%C3%A9e_Arados_Tripolis_Sidon_Tyr_Ascalon_" rel="nofollow">Callataÿ, Production</a>, pp. 75–6</p><p><br /></p><p>There is theoretically Christine Thompson/C. Arnold-Biucchi study (~1998) referenced by Callataÿ with more information on these coins, but I have been unable to find it, so far. Any corrections, added references, and comments are always appreciated.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Post autonomous tetradrachms, coins of the Seleucid kings mentioned, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4891167, member: 99456"]My latest coin is a tetradrachm from Antioch with a fabulous Tyche. This coin comes from the beginning of the first century BC as the Seleucid empire was crumbling. [U][B] Between Egypt & Parthia[/B][/U] For some background on the state of the Seleucid empire, and a few additional coins: Ptolemy VI Philometor put Alexander I Balas on the throne in Syria, married to his daughter Cleopatra Thea. [ATTACH=full]1184047[/ATTACH] Seleukid Kingdom, [B]Alexander I Balas[/B], 152-145 BC, Drachm [B]Obv: [/B]Diademed head of Alexander I to right [B]Rev:[/B] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ - ΘΕΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ / ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his right on his bow; monogram in exergue [B]Ref: [/B]mint Seleucia on Tigris SC II 1859 Ptolemy Vi then backed Demetrius II as he took back his family's throne and he gave Demetrius his daughter, Cleopatra Thea, as part of the bargain. Demetrius was captured by the Parthians (Mithridates I), and his brother, Antiochus VII, took the throne and Cleopatra Thea. Antiochus VII, battled with Parthia to reclaim eastern lands for the Seleucid empire from Mithridates I, only to lose them to Phraates II. [ATTACH=full]1184121[/ATTACH] Seleukid Kings, [B]Antiochos VII Euergetes [/B]nicknamed "Sedetes" for his city of origin (138-129 BC), Æ19, 6.15g, Antioch on the Orontes, year 176 (137/6 BC) [B]Obv:[/B] Winged bust of Eros right [B]Rev: [/B]BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY Isis headdress; crescent and star below, IOP in exergue (date) Phraates II released his captive Demetrius II to create confusion, and after Antiochus VII died in battle or killed himself, Demetrius became Seleucid king again. We can only imagine the life of Cleopatra Thea who was married first to pretender to the throne Alexander I Balas, then Demetrius II, then his brother Antiochus VII, and ended up back with Demetrius again ruling over a truncated kingdom. Demetrius II Nicator ruled 130-25 BC and died battling another usurper sponsored by Ptolemy VIII. [U][B]Civil Wars[/B][/U] For more on this time period, that reads like an episode of a Netflix or HBO drama series, see [URL='http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0230%3Atext%3DSyr.%3Achapter%3D11%3Asection%3D69']Appian XI.69[/URL] or Justin [URL='https://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans39.html#2']XXXIX.2-3[/URL]. I'll wrap up with this: Seleucus V, son of Demetrius, made a play to become king, however his mother, Cleopatra Thea, quickly shot him dead with an arrow. Cleopatra Thea reigned briefly as sole ruler, then became co-regent with her younger son, by Demetrius, Antiochus VIII a.k.a. "Grypus", named for his Γρυπός or "hook-[I]nose[/I]". Grypus killed his mother, according to Appian with poison that she had prepared for him. Grypus fought in civil war with his half-brother, "Cyzicenus" and his uncle. [U] [B]The Coin[/B][/U] All of this is long-winded context for this coin. The date on my tetradrachm is a "Civic Year" or CY 13 (97/96 BC). This is 13 years that start from 109/8 BC when Grypus granted the city of Seleukia Pieria independence in gratitude for support during his civil war. Here is an excerpt of the letter from Antiochus Gryphos to Ptolemy X referencing this: [INDENT] "Now, being anxious to reward them [The people of Seleukeia in Pieria] fittingly with the first [and greatest] benefaction, [we have decided that they be] for all time free, [and we have entered them in the treaties] which we have mutually concluded, [thinking] that thus [our piety and generosity] toward our ancestral city will be more apparent." - [URL='http://www.attalus.org/docs/rc/s71.html']Royal Correspondence: 71[/URL][/INDENT] [ATTACH=full]1180389[/ATTACH] Seleukis and Pieria, Seleukeia Pieria, 105/4-83/2 BC, AR Tetradrachm, 30mm, 14.90g, dated CY 13 (97/96 BC) [B]Obv: [/B]Veiled and turreted bust of Tyche right [B]Rev: [/B]ΣEΛEYKEΩN / THΣ IEPAΣ / KAI / AYTONOMOY, Filleted thunderbolt on throne; [B]ΓI[/B] (date = 13) below, monogram ([B]ω[/B]/[B]Δ[/B]) to lower right; all within wreath. [B]Ref: [/B][URL='https://www.academia.edu/372563/La_production_des_t%C3%A9tradrachmes_civiques_de_la_Cilicie_jusqu_%C3%A0_la_Palestine_%C3%A0_la_fin_du_IIe_et_dans_la_premi%C3%A8re_moiti%C3%A9_du_Ier_s._av._J.-C._Elaiussa_S%C3%A9bast%C3%A9_Aigeai_S%C3%A9leucie-de-Pi%C3%A9rie_Laodic%C3%A9e_Arados_Tripolis_Sidon_Tyr_Ascalon_']Callataÿ, Production[/URL], pp. 75–6 There is theoretically Christine Thompson/C. Arnold-Biucchi study (~1998) referenced by Callataÿ with more information on these coins, but I have been unable to find it, so far. Any corrections, added references, and comments are always appreciated. [B]Post autonomous tetradrachms, coins of the Seleucid kings mentioned, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.[/B][/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
A Crumbling Seleucid Empire
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...