The Seleucid Kingdom is a most interesting topic in the general history of the Middle East. It was formally founded in 312 BCE, extended from today’s western Turkey (oops sorry, Türkiye) to central Iran, but soon declined : the Parthians seized control of Iran and Mesopotamia, some former provinces became independent kingdoms like Pergamum or Judaea, many cities bought their liberty from the kings always in dire need of cash, and the kingdom was eventually reduced to North Syria only. It was formally abolished by Pompey the Great in 64 BCE. This Kingdom has been a superpower in the 3rd c. BCE but had committed the imprudence of confronting Rome. The Romans actively supported all the kingdom’s rivals and enemies : Pergamon, the Jews, Ptolemaic Egypt… In the same time several pretenders to the throne clashed and became mere warlords. In the late 2nd and 1st c. BCE the Seleucid Kingdom could have been dubbed the Sick Man of the Mediterranean. But we shouldn’t forget that it deeply hellenized the semitic Middle East. For example, Antiochus IV founded Greek cities for his veterans and built gymnasiums (the high schools of the ancient Greeks) everywhere to promote Greek language and culture among the Oriental population – at least the people who could afford sending their children to school. While their rivals the Ptolemies strictly separated the Greeks from the natives in their kingdom of Egypt, the Seleucids wanted the local population, at least the local elites, to become Greeks. This cultural legacy should not be underestimated. The Seleucid era which begins in 312 BCE and was the official calendar of the kingdom remained in use among the Parthians, and Eastern Christians in Central Asia still used it as late as the 14th C. CE. What about the coins ? Collectors are usually focused on the beautiful large silver tetradrachms, but in daily life people used small bronze coins numismatists call «denominations A, B, C» which correspond to quadruple, double, unit… These AE coins are extremely common in Syria and Lebanon, dealers in the souks proposed them for very cheap. They are found everywhere in the whole region, which is a bit frustrating for archaeologists because they very rarely excavate Seleucid remains : everything seems to be Roman, Byzantine, Ummayyad… In Seleucid foundations such as Apamea, Dura Europos, even the kingdom's capital Antioch on the Orontes, almost nothing older than the Roman period has been brought to light, except for lots of coins… Here is a micro-collection of Seleucid royal coins I could buy in the souks (sometimes for peanuts) many years ago when visiting the Middle East. Many were acquired in Damascus, some in Jerash or Jerusalem. Most date back to the 2nd c. BCE. These cheap ancients are often disregarded by collectors, but are interesting from my point of view. All legends and symbols are Greek, but let’s not forget they were the daily small change for an Oriental population that spoke Aramaean… 1 : Seleucus III Keraunos, AE denomination C (unit), Antioch, 226-223 BCE 2 : Antiochus IV Epiphanes, AE denomination B (double), Tyre, 174/3 BCE. 3 : Antiochus IV Epiphanes, AE denomination C (unit), Antioch, 175-172 BCE 4 : Antiochus IV Epiphanes, AE denomination AA (octuple), Antioch, 169/8 BCE 5 : Antiochus IV Epiphanes, AE denomination A (quadruple), Antioch, 169/8 BCE 6 : Antiochus VI, AR drachm, Apamea, 145/4 BCE 7 : Demetrius II Nicator, AE denomination A (quadruple), uncertain mint, 146/5 BCE 8 : Antiochus VII, AE denomination B (double), Antioch, 138/7 BCE 9 : Alexander II Zabinas, AE denomination B (double), Antioch, 129/8 BCE 10 : Alexander II Zabinas, AE denomination B (double), Antioch, 128-122 BCE 11 : Alexander II Zabinas, AE denomination B (double), Antioch, 128-122 BCE 12 : Antiochus VIII, AE denomination B (double), Antioch, 123/2 BCE 13 : Philip I Philadelphus (posthumous), AR tetradrachm, Antioch, 69-57 BCE
Nice collection, wonderful, varied images. I have one SELEUCID KINGS of SYRIA. Alexander I Balas.(152-145 BC).Antioch.Ae. Obv : Head of Alexander I to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev : ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟY. Apollo standing facing, head to left, holding arrow and grounded bow; trident to outer left, monogram in exergue. SC 1795.3.Weight : 6.12 gr Diameter : 17 mm
I have a couple of rulers not shown: Province, City - Reign: Syria, Seleukid (Seleucid) Kings of - Seleukos (Seleucus) I Nikator (Nicator) Denomination: AE Half Unit Mint: Sardis (312 - 280 BC) Obverse: Winged head of Medusa right with serpents in hair Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ΣΕΛΕΥΚOY Bull butting right; ΣI between hind legs References: BMCG 4. 7. 65; SC 6.1; HGC 9, 107 (a) Province, City - Reign: Syria, Seleukid (Seleucid) Kings of - Antiochos IV Epiphanes Mint: Quasi-municipal issue, Hierapolis on the Pyramos (Kastabala) (175–164 BC) Obverse: Diademed and radiate head of Antiochos IV to right Reverse: ΙΕΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΩΙ ΠΥΡΑΜΩΙ Eagle with closed wings standing left; monogram above right; monogram below References: HGC 9, 682; CSE 2, 321; SNG Levante 1561 (var. monogram) Province, City - Reign: Syria, Seleukid (Seleucid) Kings of - Antiochos IX Eusebes Philopator (Kyzikenos) - Second reign, Antioch on the Orontes Mint: Antioch (110 – 109 BC) Obverse: Laureate head of bearded Herakles to right Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ A]TIOXOY ΦIΛOΠATOΡOΣ Athena standing facing, head to left, holding Nike in right hand and resting left hand on shield at her side, spear behind; OIΔ monogram over aplustre in left field Exergue: ΓΣ (date) = 110-109 BC References: BMCG 4. 93. 24-25; Hoover HGC 9, 1250; Sear GCV 2, 7172
Heres one from the Bactrian side of the seleucid empire, minted in Ai khanoum, as evident from the triangle in the circle mint mark. Any legend that was near the anchor has been wiped off. I believe this is the unit type C, not sure of the weights. Seleucus I Nicator with Antiochus I soter Bull butting right, anchor, flukes upwards 285 BC–281 BC Ai khanoum mint, Afghanistan
