Antiochos VIII tetdrachm - odd symbol in field

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Lane Walker, Feb 12, 2020.

  1. Lane Walker

    Lane Walker Active Member

    [​IMG]

    Syria, Antioch / Antiochos VIII / AR, 26.5 mm, 16.6 gm / 112-110 BC
    Obv: Diademed head of of Antiochos VIII right
    Rev: Zeus standing left within wreath holding star and sceptre, crescent above head with BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, A in left field


    Does anyone have knowledge of the symbol above the A in left field?
    The previous attribution depicts this as Zeus Ouranios on the Rev and I'm curious about this depiction of Zeus.
    Does the small delta symbol below ANTIOXOY mean anything?
     
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  3. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    It's a monogram... Phi-Lambda?
     
  4. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Nice coin!

    I like the portrait and toning.

    John
     
  5. Lane Walker

    Lane Walker Active Member

    Antiochos VIII evidently has the moniker 'Grypus' which translates to 'hook nose' which this portrait really depicts well!
     
    Theodosius likes this.
  6. Lane Walker

    Lane Walker Active Member

    I could totally buy that. The elongated Phi with a Lambda placed at it's bottom. I would presume that the A below depicts Antioch?
     
  7. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    They are called controls, and there are thousands of them. I started a page for Seleucid coins, but still have hundreds to add. Almost all will have either a control or a mint mark. Yours has the phi lambda that @Finn235 alluded to (many I guess on what the monograms include) and could be the initials of a mint worker, some reference to the mint or workshop, ect. We really don't know in many cases.

    The delta on the right is a secondary control and there are 13 different known just for this type. Could it stand for Antioch? It's possible, but other tetradrachms from this mint exclude an A control.
     
    Andrew McMenamin and Lane Walker like this.
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