Seleucid Empire, page 1 (Seleucus I

s e l e u c i d   e m p i r e

The Seleucid empire at its greatest stretched from Thrace to India and included almost all of Alexander the Great's conquests, except Egypt. Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, became satrap of Babylonia in 321 BC. In a prolonged power struggle between the "Successors" (Diadochoi) -- Ptolemy (Egypt), Lysimachos (Thrace), Cassander (Macedon and Greece) and Seleucus ganged up on Antigonas (Asia), defeating him at the battle of Ipsus in 301 BC. Seleucus was assassinated by the disgruntled son of Ptolemy in 281 BC.

The kingdom was a major center of Hellenistic culture, maintaining the pre-eminence of Greek customs and manners over the Middle East. It began to decline in 190 BC after a first defeat by the Romans and lasted until 64 BC when the last Seleucid king, Antiochus XIII, was murdered by Sampsiceramus, an Arab emir, at the behest of Pompey.

r e f e r e n c e s

SC = Seleucid Coins - A Comprehensive Catalogue, Part I, Arthur Houghton and Catharine Lorber
(Metrological Tables by Brian Kritt), CNG/ANS, 2002 and Part II, Arthur Houghton, Catharine Lorber and Oliver Hoover, CNG/ANS, 2008
SGC = Greek Coins and their values, Volume 2: Asia and Africa, David R. Sear, Seaby, London (1979)
SNG Spaer = Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Israel I, The Arnold Spaer Collection of Seleucid Coins, Jerusalem (1998)
L/K AML = Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant from the Lindgren Collection, Henry Clay Lindgren and Frank L. Kovacs, Chrysopylon Publications, San Francisco (1985)
Houghton CSE = Coins of the Seleucid Empire from the Collection of Arthur Houghton, Arthur Houghton, The American Numismatic Society, New York (1983)

Seleucus I Nicator

Son of Antiochus of Macedon. Reign 312 - 281 BC.

[Seleucus I] 13K JPG
Seleucus I (312 - 281 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 17.3
19 x 18 mm.
6.45 gm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Athena Promachos standing right with spear and shield; monogram in right field.

[Seleucus I] 11K JPG
Seleucus I (312 - 281 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 21
19 x 18 mm.
7.16 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Winged head of Medusa, right; serpents in hair.
Reverse: Humped bull butting, right.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

[Seleucus I] 10K JPG
Seleucus I (312 - 281 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 21
19 x 18 mm.
6.56 gm.
Die position=2h
reverse
Obverse: Winged head of Medusa, right; serpents in hair.
Reverse: Humped bull butting, right.

Antiochus I Soter

Son of Seleucus I. Coregent 294 - 281 BC; Sole Reign 281 - 261 BC.

[Antiochus I] 6K JPG
Antiochus I (281 - 261 BC)
Mint: Smyrna or Sardes
AE 14
SC 315
14 mm.
2.62 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of Athena facing, in triple crested helmet.
Reverse: Nike standing left.

100K JPG
Antiochus I (281 - 261 BC)
Mint: Smyrna or Sardes (?)
AE 12
SC 315 (?)
12 mm.
1.91 gm.
Die position=_h
Obverse: Facing bust of Athena.
Reverse: (?)

[Antiochus I] 17K JPG
Antiochus I (281 - 261 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 18
SC 343
18 mm.
5.59 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus, right.
Reverse: Thunderbolt. Club and monogram, above; jawbone of a boar, below. Countermark of an anchor (?).

100K JPG
Antiochus I (281 - 261 BC)
Mint: Susa
AE 15
SC 400 type
15 mm.
2.64 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Heads of Dioskouroi, facing.
Reverse: Elephant standing left.

[Antiochus I] 11K JPG
Antiochus I (281 - 261 BC)
Mint: Ecbatana
AE 18
SC 416
16 x 18 mm.
3.14 gm.
Die position=8h
reverse
Obverse: Elderly diademed head of Antiochus, right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow(s) and resting on bow. Monograms in fields.

Antiochus II Theos

Son of Antiochus I. Coregent 266 - 261 BC; Sole Reign 261 - 246 BC.

[Antiochus II] 9K JPG
Antiochus II (261 - 246 BC)
Mint: Tralles (?)
AE 16
SC 537
16 mm.
4.14 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Tripod; monogram to either side.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

[Antiochus II] 14K JPG
Antiochus II (261 - 246 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 575.1
19 x 18 mm.
6.73 gm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Tripod; monograms. Anchor in exergue.

70K JPG
Antiochus II (261 - 246 BC)
Mint: Seleucia on the Tigris
AE 14
SC 599 (?)
14 mm.
2.47 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: 3/4 facing head of Apollo.
Reverse: Artemis standing left.
Note: Denomination 'D'

Seleucus II Kallinikos

Son of Antiochus II. Reign 246 - 226 BC.

100K JPG
Seleucus II (246 - 226 BC)
Mint: Sardes
AE 16
SC 660
16 mm.
4.63 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Head of Athena right.
Reverse: Apollo standing left.

[Seleucus II] 12K JPG
Seleucus II (246 - 226 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 692.1
19 mm.
7.12 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Head of Athena in crested Corinthian helmet, right.
Reverse: Nike standing left, crowning large anchor. Monograms in fields.

Antiochus Hierax

Son of Antiochus II. Coregent in Asia Minor c.245(?) - 242 BC; King 242 - 227 BC.

Seleucus III Soter (Keraunos)

Son of Seleucus II. Reign 226 - 223 BC.

100K JPG
Seleucus III (226 - 223 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 15
SC 922.3
15 mm.
4.48 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bust of Artemis, right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow.

[Seleucus III] 8K JPG
Seleucus III (226 - 223 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 15
SC 922
15 mm.
3.87 gm.
Die position=2h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of Artemis, right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow.

Antiochus III 'The Great'

Son of Seleucus II. Reign 223 - 187 BC. Killed in Elymais trying to loot temple of Bel.

[Antiochus III] 6K JPG
Antiochus III (223 - 187 BC)
Mint: Sardes
AE 13
SC 978.1
13 mm.
2.68 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochus, right.
Reverse: Elephant standing left, D below.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

100K JPG
Antiochus III
Mint: Uncertain Mint 59, Military mint in Coele-Syria
AE 10
SC 1088
10 mm.
1.40 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse:
Reverse: Elephant right.

[Antiochus III] 9K JPG
Antiochus III (223 - 187 BC)
Mint: Seleucia on the Tigris
AE 16
SC 1185
15 x 16 mm.
3.51 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Apollo, left, leaning on tripod.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Molon

Satrap of Media; usurper. Ruled at Seleucia, Susa and Ecbatana 222 - 220 BC.

Achaios

Uncle of Antiochus III; usurper. Ruled at Sardes 220 - 214 BC.

Seleucus IV Philopator

Son of Antiochus III. Reign 187 - 175 BC.

[Seleucus IV] 7K JPG
Seleucus IV (187 - 175 BC) (?)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 15 [serrated edge][Denomination 'C']
SC 1318 type; SGC 6972v.
15 x 14 mm.
3.23 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Veiled bust of Laodice IV; unclear control in left field.
Reverse: Elephant head, left.

100K JPG
Seleucus IV
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 14 [serrated edge][Denomination 'D']
SC 1319v.
14 mm.
2.57 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bust of Apollo, right. No control visible.
Reverse: Apollo seated left.

[Seleucus IV] 8K JPG
Seleucus IV (187 - 175 BC) (?)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 14
SC 1338v.
14 mm.
3.33 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Diademed head of Seleucus (?), right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow.

Antiochus

Son of Seleucus IV. Reign 175 - 170 BC.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Son of Antiochus III. Reign 175/0 - 164 BC.

[Antiochus IV] 9K JPG
Antiochus IV (175 - 164 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 19
SC 1408; SGC 6991v.
18 x 19 mm.
6.07 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Radiate head of Antiochus IV, right.
Reverse: Zeus standing left holding thunderbolt and sceptre.

100K JPG
Antiochus IV (175/0 - 164 BC)
Mint: Antioch on the Orontes
AE 15
SC 1410; SNG Spaer 998
14 x 15 mm.
3.91 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Radiate, diademed head of Antiochus IV, right.
Reverse: Apollo standing right. Four-line legend.

[Antiochus IV] 19K JPG
Antiochus IV (175 - 164 BC)
Mint: Seleucia in Pieria
AE 22 [Denomination'B']
SC 1425 type; SGC 6998; L/K AML 1810v.
20 x 22 mm.
8.41 gm.
Die position=4h
reverse
Obverse: Radiate head of Antiochus, right.
Reverse: Winged thunderbolt; legend and controls, all within wreath (reverse image should be rotated 90 degrees clockwise).

[Antiochus IV] 10K JPG
Antiochus IV (175 - 164 BC)
Mint: Ptolemaïs
AE 16 [serrated edge]
SC 1477 type; SGC 6972v.
16 mm.
4.85 gm.
Die position=11h
reverse
Obverse: Veiled bust of Laodice IV, right.
Reverse: Elephant, left; prow of galley, left. Unclear controls.

60K JPG
Antiochus IV (175/0 - 164 BC)
Mint: Ptolemaïs
AE 14 [serrated edge]
SC 1478.1i; Houghton CSE 115v.
13 x 14 mm.
2.44 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos. Aphlaston to left; 'K' in exergue.

[Antiochus IV] 8K JPG
Antiochus IV (175 - 164 BC)
Mint: Ptolemaïs
AE 13 [serrated edge]
SC 1478 type; L/K AML A1796a
13 mm.
2.10 gm.
Die position=2h
reverse
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, right.
Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos. Aphlaston to left; exergue off flan.

100K JPG
Antiochus IV
Mint: Ptolemaïs (?)
AE 16
SC 1485; SNG Spaer 1144-1147v.; Houghton CSE, 788-789v.
15 x 16 mm.
3.68 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Radiate head of Antiochus IV, right.
Reverse: Artemis standing, facing. No control [SC 1485(1)].

Antiochus V Eupator

Son of Antiochus IV. Reign 164 - 162/1 BC.

Timarchos

Satrap of Babylon; usurper. Reign 162 BC.

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