Seleucid Empire, Asia Minor. Demetrius II, Nicator. First reign, 146-138 BC Antiochia on the Orontes, c. 145-144 BC (year 168)
Seleucid Empire, Asia Minor. Demetrius II, Nicator. First reign, 146-138 BC Antiochia on the Orontes, c. 145-144 BC (year 168)
AR Tetradrachm, 16.35g (27mm, 12h).
Diademed head of Demetrius II r. Laurel wreath border. / BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΔHMHTPIOY – ΘEOY – ΦIΛAΔ – EΛΦOY – NIKAT – OPOΣ Apollo seated l. on omphalos, testing arrow in r. hand and resting l. arm on grounded bow; in inner l. field, monogram, between legs, monogram and in exergue
Pedigree: Ex Ars Classica X, 1925, Lot 1192. Hess 221, Lot 1933, Lot 106 (R. Laughlin Collection). Glendining 19 July 1950, Lot 191 (Platt Hall Collection). Sotheby’s, 17 July 1974, Lot 29. J. Elsen 114, 15 Sept 2020, Lot 73. CGB, 7 December 2021, Lot64. From the Edgar Rodgers collection
References: DCA 146. SMA 209. SC 1907.1d.
Grade: Well struck with lovely tone and superb style. Of the highest quality. aEF/EF
gk1989
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Struck during the first year of his first sole reign, this coin depicts Demetrius as a boy of only 15 years old! Despite his young age, the boy king managed to suppress numerous local revolts and force all Ptolemaic troops from his lands. However, despite his early victories against foreign forces, Demetrius faced the near immediate loss of Antioch and its mint to Antiochus VI. This was due mainly to the defection of generals such as Diodotus, who were loyal to the defeated Alexander Balas. As such, the mint at Antioch ceased to produce coinage for Demetrius a mere year after this particular coin was placed into circulation. It wouldn’t be until his release from Persian captivity in 129 BC that Antioch would again begin issuing coinage for Demetrius.