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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;CoinDoctorYT, post: 4582935, member: 113262&quot;]So if you don&#039;t know Bucephalus was Alexander the Great&#039;s famous horse that he rode into battle with. Today, I will be sharing four extremely rare Tetradrachms and Drachms struck by Seleukos I Nikator and Antiochos I Soter that feature this famed horse. I hope you enjoy, and if any of you have these coins PLEASE post them!</p><p><br /></p><p><i>---</i></p><p><br /></p><p><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; </i>With an extremely low survival rate, these virtually unknown Tetradrachms struck by Seleukos feature a magnificent portrait of a horse on the obverse and an elephant on the reverse. You should know that this issue is one of the rarest Seleucid Tetradrachms with only a few dies recorded and only 10 examples left in existence.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The reverse reads King Selekou (BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY). Monograms such as HΡ and ΣI can be shown in between the elephant’s legs. A few examples feature no monograms, but a bee above the elephant on the reverse. Otherwise, most varieties for this type remain unpublished.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The coins were struck in Pergamon around 281 BC after Seleukos’ campaign against Chandragupta. Bucephalus, the horse of Alexander the Great, might be the horse portrayed on this type. Interestingly enough, this coin may be the only accurate depiction of Alexander’s horse from Seleukos: who probably saw Bucephalus frequently. The horse shows horns which deifies the creature and states heroism—which is why the horse is regarded as Bucephalus.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A record price of $300,000 was reached for an example of this type. Many examples have the possibility of reaching higher than that.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1134972[/ATTACH]</p><p>Seleukos I Nikator&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>Bridled head of horned horse (Bucephalus?) facing to right, its mouth open&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Elephant walking to right, an anchor below&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (281 BC)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>*Extremely Rare</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This next coin was struck by Nikator once more later in his reign joint with Antiochos. It features Alexander and Bucephalus in one reverse!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The most exciting Tetradrachm struck by Nikator would be this extremely rare piece struck in 295 BC. There are other denominations struck with this design, but there are only four known Tetradrachms of this type. Because of this coins rarity, it goes for tens of thousands of dollars when one pops up on the market. The picture below is the newest example discovered, making it the fourth coin in existence.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The history of this type is fascinating. There is much debate on who is portrayed on the reverse. Most would agree with Alexander the Great, because it makes the most sense. On the coin we can see the saddle cloth on the horse is made up of animal skin—possibly of a panther, which would be a dead giveaway. Also, the rider and the horse are horned, which deifies them. However, Hughton and Stewart gave compelling arguments on why the coin features not Alexander: but Seleukos himself. They suggest that the horse is not Bucephalus, but the swift horse that carried Seleukos from Babylon in 315 BC. The horns could now mean something else. The horns could be there so the person looking at the coin knows that it is Seleukos riding on the coin and not an anonymous hero. With evidence from both sides it all comes up to the interpreters opinion. There is neither a right or a wrong answer.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1134973[/ATTACH]</p><p>Seleukos I Nikator&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>Alexander the Great, wearing helmet adorned with bull’s ear and horns, panther skin on shoulders, riding Bucephalus right; across lower field, from left to right, ΣΩ and two monograms centered&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>(295 BC)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>*Extremely Rare</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In fact, this next is the most common type--but that isn&#039;t saying much.</p><p>At this point, it isn’t surprising that Bucephalus is being portrayed on a Seleucid coin again. This extremely rare issue struck by Antiochos in 280 BC may commemorate an unknown victory or accomplishment. Or it could simply be a design celebrating Alexander the Great.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The obverse shows the classic diademed portrait of Antiochos. The reverse shows the horned and bridled portrait of a horse, presumable Bucephalus. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY is seen on the reverse and identification monograms Δ, Λ, and ΔI are shown to the right and below the horse. This type is not published in most guides, and is rarely seen on the market. An estimate of less than 30 examples is accepted to be the survival of this issue.</p><p>Also, these coins were most likely struck at the Ai Khanoum mint or the Baktra mint.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1134974[/ATTACH]</p><p>Antiochos I Soter&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Diademed head of Antiochos I right&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>Horned and bridled horse head right with horn-like forelock; before neck, Δ in circle&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; (281-261 BC)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>*Rare</p><p><br /></p><p>Some may ignore this type, because little is known about it. But this last Drachm was struck back in Nikator&#039;s reign around 290 BC. It features the obverse portrait of Bucephalus (or to make numismatists happy: horned and bridled horse--but we all know it&#039;s Bucephalus) and the reverse the famous Seleucid anchor. So looking at these types, I&#039;ve narrowed the mints down to Areia, Margiana, or Baktria. There is no way these were struck in Ai Khanoum or Babylon because the flans are way too rounded. They could also have been struck at the Tigris mint, but give me your input on those.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1134975[/ATTACH]</p><p>Seleukos I</p><p>Horned and bridled head of horse right</p><p>Seleucid anchor</p><p>(290 BCE)</p><p>*rare</p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you guys enjoyed this thread. Please post your Seleucid Tetradrachms. I&#039;ll start by posting my Antiochos VII Tetradrachm.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1134976[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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