Serrate and widely off-centered, the following coin is my first of Seleucus IV. It was struck in Antioch and weighs 10.77 g. Apollo figures on both obverse and reverse. The coin is bronze.. SNGIs 845.
That's so cool and interesting...and one of the few I would go after BECAUSE of the off-flan obverse---it just has lots of eye-appeal
Nice one Charles! Your acquiring lots of Seleucid bronze. Seleucus IV Antioch 187 to 175 BC Obvs: Apollo right laureate. Revs: BAΣIΛIEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Apollo standing holding arrow in right hand and resting left elbow on tripod. AB and control mark in left field AE 23mm, 9.8g
Nice bottle cap 7C! I was talking to someone at a coin show who said that the Seleucid coins like that were supposed to be shaped like a "sun". I asked him where he heard that and he couldn't remember. Anyone heard anything like that?
@C71.. Apollo was originated as the god of the Sun. He was identified with Helios. Did the first bottle-cap-coins include Apollo on obverse? Just guessing..
As far as I know they were done for decorative purposes only and possibly inspired by similar coins of Philip of Macedon since Seleucid serrates come after those. You will only find these from 3 mints; Antioch, Ake, or Apamea.
I received my very first "bottlecap" last week. I showed it to my daughter (she works in my office with me) - her immediate response: "That looks like a bottlecap!" It is amazing how non-collectors even know these are bottlecaps! Seleukid Demetrios I Soter 162-150 BCE AE 17 serrate 16.8mm 3.9g Antioch on Orontes mint Horse Hd L - Elephant Hd R- SC 1646 SNG Spaer 1299-1304 Everytime I see any of these coins, they always remind me of this drink growing when I was growing up:
