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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Magnus Maximus, post: 5253877, member: 73473&quot;]Hi everyone,</p><p>I recently aquired a rare coin of Seleucus II Callinicus struck at Nisibis in the 230&#039;s. Now coins of Seleucus II are not rare by any stretch but what makes this coin so special is that it was struck at Antioch in Mygdonia(more commonly known as Nisibis) and it is the first recorded instance of a Seleucid King with a beard. Nisibis is an interesting choice for a mint at this time, it wasn&#039;t a very hellenized city nor was it stratigically important for the time. Coupled with the fact that most of the major mints were near stratigic choke points or regional capitals(ex Antioch, Seleucia, Ekbatana, Sardes, Phocea, Alexandria Troas), the choice of having a mint at Nisibis is an odd one. </p><p><br /></p><p>From what [USER=96635]@Pavlos[/USER] and I could figure out, it seems that this mint was used to help pay for Seleucus II&#039;s disatrious Parthian campaign. The short beard on the portrait reminds me of the much latter soldier emperors of the 3rd century CE, so perhaps it&#039;s design was used to foster comraderie with the soldiers. What ever the reason, I do like the short bearded portrait!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219102[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And the coin in hand!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219113[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219114[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Seleukid Kingdom. Nisibis. Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC.</p><p>Tetradrachm AR</p><p>28 mm, 16,58 g</p><p>Diademed head of Seleucus II right, with short, curly beard / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟ[Υ], Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting elbow on tall tripod, dotted border; to inner left two monograms.</p><p>very fine</p><p>SC 749.2; WSM 819.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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