Alexander Types. Seleucid Kings of Syria. Seleukos I Nikator. 312-280 BC. Seleukeia on the Tigris, c. 300 BC
Alexander Types. Seleucid Kings of Syria. Seleukos I Nikator. 312-280 BC. Seleukeia on the Tigris, c. 300 BC
AR Tetradrachm, 16.91g (30mm, 3h). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress / Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; monogram in wreath in left field, K below the throne.
Pedigree: Ex CNG 67, 22 Sept 2004, lot 844. Ex Stack's (15 June 1972), lot 434
References: SC 117.2b; SNG Spaer 116 (same obverse die); ESM 12; Houghton 945 (same obverse die)
Grade: Lovely cabinet toning. Surfaces are slightly porous and with some areas of encrustation (minor). Some slight softness on hair on obverse. Reverse strike is sharp and the coin is attractive. EF. (gk1514)
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Once Alexander died in 323 BC his generals and advisors divided his large empire amongst themselves. Seleukos I Nikator took the region which encompasses modern day Syria among other areas. Before the diadochi began to strike coins in their own style they continued the tradition of the Alexander types that had long been prevalent in the area. This coin could be easily thought of as one struck during Alexander’s reign but the legend denoting Seleukos tells us otherwise.