Antiochos VIII---Tetradrachm

Although I'm not a big fan of the later generations of the successors to Alexander, I do LOVE big silvery Tets, especially when they are well centered, relatively high-grade and artistically rendered. So, after a few offers and counter offers, I was able to purchase this lovely coin from HHC at a fair price. With the exception of the link below, I'll skip the history of the Seleucids, allowing anyone interested to google at their leisure. I will note that his nickname of 'Grypos' or hooked-nosed appears well warranted---and a bit of an overbite as well

http://www.seleucid-genealogy.com/Antiochus_VIII.html


SELEUCID EMPIRE. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos). 121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.39 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. 1st reign at Antioch, circa 121/0-113 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing left, holding star and scepter; to outer left, IE above A; AI in exergue. SC 2298.1d; HGC 9, 1197 e. Good VF, minor double strike on reverse.

Please feel free to PILE ON

 

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Very nice! Sadly I do not have this guy. Some "tet" relatives though?


Seleucid Kingdom, Demetrios I Soter, 162-150 BC
AR tetradrachm, 16g, 32mm; Antioch mint, 162-155 BC
Obv.: Diademed head of Demetrios I right within wreath.
Rev.: Tyche, holding scepter and cornucopia, seated left on throne supported by tritonesses right, monogram to outer left. In two vertical lines, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY (King Demetrios)


Antiochus VII Euergetes, Seleucid Kingdom, BC 138-129
AR, tetradrachm, 16.59g, 30mm; 12h; Antioch
Obv.: Diademed head of Antiochus VII right
Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EVEPΓETOY; Athena Nikephoros standing left; to outer left, monogram above A; all within wreath.

I really love these coins.

 

Spectacular! I have a tet with Antiochus VIII and his mama!


Cleopatra Thea, Queen of Syria, with son Antiochus VIII.
AR tetradrachm.
15.85 gm. 27 mm.
Antioch mint, 125-121 B.C.E.
Obv: Jugate busts, r.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, Zeus Nikephoros seated l., holding lotus-tipped scepter; IE outer left, A under throne.
Refs: SNG Spaer 2437; c.f. Sear 7135. Ex-Henry Clay Lindgren.

 

oh sweet, what a pretty coin MZ! great details and the the guy sturck it like he meant it. a little bit of double struck legends going on also?

here's my only seleucid tet...



SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Philip I Philadelphos, 95-83 BC. Tetradrachm. Antioch.

O: Diademed head right. R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ ΕΠIΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦIΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ. Zeus seated left with Nike and sceptre: Control: monogram. SNG Israel 2799. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 15.7g. Diameter: 26 mm.

 

Yes, you are absolutely right....but very minor in my eyes and I think it adds to the allure of the coin.

Thanks for all the kind comments.....Terrific posts everyone!!

I'll wait a bit and then post a few of my other Tets---not quite as nice as the OP but I love 'em anyway.....

 

Oh how about the same coin, minted semi-autonomously, some 60 years later?


Philip I Philadelphos, semi-autonomous city issue of Antioch
AR, tetradrachm, 26mm, 12h; Antioch mint 46/5 BC or later
Obv.: Diademed head left
Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΑΠΠΟV ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΑΦΟV; Zeus Nikephoros seated left holding spear in left hand holding victory presenting laurel wreath in right; AYT monogram to inner left, date in exergue (off flan)

That coin is a real pleasure to hold too!

 

Excellent @Mikey Zee

 

A excellent example!

 

Congrats on a beautiful coin Mikey Zee.

 

Nice tets, I do not collect Seleukids, but I see why you captured these.

 

Very NICE... wow, lotsa detail. Double strike is cool... deflates Zeus's head a bit to control his ego!

 

Thanks! I would love to get the whole dynasty if possible eventually.

 

AWESOME coin, I love it! I'm surprised I haven't seen more Seleukid stuff in my time here (but that's not even two months, so I probably missed a lot). I mean, awesome portraits of historically significant men & women... what's not to like??

My Seleukid tets:
Antiochos I, 281-261 BC (I love the forlorn look on his portraits):


Antiochos III, "The Great", 222-187 BC (hosted the fugitive Hannibal and still lost badly to Rome; not so "Great" maybe):


Antiochos VII (fielded the last great Seleukid army, but was defeated and killed by the Parthians):

 

Awesome coin @Mikey Zee!! I don't have and example of Antiochos VIII yet but I got a few other Seleukid tets I can share.

Seleukos I Nikator. 312-281 BC.
AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 17.02 g). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon II mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, anchor and monogram; M below throne.

Antiochos VII 138-129 BC
AR Tetradrachm (29.86mm, 15.75g) Diademed head right. / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEΡΓETOY, Athena standing left,
holding Nike & spear, & resting on shield; monogram over A at
left, Φ at Athena's right.

Seleukos II Kallinikos. 246-225 BC.
AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 16.39 g). Sardes mint. Struck circa 246-245/2 BC. Diademed head right, with curly sideburn / Apollo standing left, testing arrow and leaning on tall tripod; monograms to inner left and inner right.

Philip I Philadelphos
AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 15.43g). Antioch mint, struck ca 89-83 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and lotus-tipped sceptre in left; monogram beneath throne, N in exergue; all within wreath.

That's what I want to try to do as well. Your Demetrios tet is sweet!

 

Does that include the usurpers?

 

What a beautifull sharp coin, lots of eye appeal, congrats Mikey

Got a couple of his ancestors:

 

WOW!!!

What an incredible series of posts!!

Crap, now I caught the @Jwt708 urge to collect the entire dynasty....

My more modest examples:

Silver-Tetradrachm of Antiochos VII. (Euergetes) 138-129 BC., from Antioch mint in Syria. Av. diad. head right Rv. Athena standing left, holding spear and shield; weight is 15,90gr. BMC 13





Silver-Tetradrachm of Antiochos III., 223-187 BC., Antioch mint in Syria. Av. diad. head of the king right Rv. Apollo seated left on Omphalos, holding arrow and bow; weight is 16.03gr. BMC 25

 

Yes!

 

You're a closer than I am! But I have a side set in bronze. You and I are kindred spirits in our approach to collecting, I think.

 

Holy smokes, Mikey-Z ... congrats on scoring that fantastic AR-OP-Antiochos

=> cha-ching!!

Hmmm, all I have to add to this thread is a few AE additions ... *sigh*

Oh well => here are my three Antiochos bronze bros ...


"I"



"VI"



"VIII"