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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Syria||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Coins of Syria
Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator, c. 94 - 88 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |X| |Eusebes| |Philopator,| |c.| |94| |-| |88| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Antiochus is a Greek name meaning "resolute in contention". The capital Antioch received its name in deference to Antiochus, the father of the Seleucid dynasty's founder Seleucus I; the name became dynastic and many Seleucid kings bore it. Ancient Hellenistic kings did not use regnal numbers. Instead, they usually employed epithets to distinguish themselves from other rulers with similar names; the numbering of kings is mostly a modern practice. On his coins, Antiochus X appeared with the epithets Eusebes (the pious) and Philopator (father-loving)
SH113423. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2429, SNG Spaer 2790, HGC 9 1287 (S), EF, excellent portrait, well centered on a tight flan, dark toned areas in recesses, scratches, flan flaw on obv., weight 14.697 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 30o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 94 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Antiochos X right; reverse Zeus seated left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Victory in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, control-marks outer left and beneath throne, BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY in two downward lines in right, EYΣEBOYΣ / ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ in two downward lines on left; from the PS Collection, ex Musa Numismatic Art; scarce; $500.00 (€470.00)


Seleukid Kingdom, Alexander II Zabinas, 128 - 122 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Alexander| |II| |Zabinas,| |128| |-| |122| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Zabinas claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII, but may have been the son of an Egyptian merchant. He was used as a pawn by the Egyptian king Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon). Zabinas managed to defeat Demetrius II and thereafter ruled parts of Syria, but soon ran out of Egyptian support and was defeated by Demetrius' son Antiochus VIII Grypus. As a last resort, Zabinas plundered the temples of Antioch. He is said to have joked about melting down a statuette of the goddess of victory, Nike, which was held in the hand of a Zeus statue, saying "Zeus has given me Victory." Enraged by his impiety, the Antiochenes expelled Zabinas, who was captured and executed soon after. "Zabinas" is a derogatory name meaning "the bought one," implying he was Ptolemy's slave.
SH113424. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2219(3)c, SNG Spaer 2288, Newell SMA 333, HGC 9 1149d, VF, well centered, toned, scratches and bumps, edge cracks, weight 16.766 g, maximum diameter 31.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 128 - 127 B.C.; obverse diademed head right, fillet border; reverse Zeus seated left on throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike in right hand, long lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander) downward on left, monogram left, Σ under throne; from the PS Collection, ex Aegean Numismatics (Mentor, OH); $500.00 (€470.00)


Seleukid Kingdom, Philip I Philadelphos, c. 94 - 83 or 75 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Philip| |I| |Philadelphos,| |c.| |94| |-| |83| |or| |75| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Philip I Philadelphus was the fourth son of Antiochus VIII Grypus. He took the diadem in 94 B.C. together with his twin brother Antiochus XI Epiphanes, after the eldest son Seleucus VI Epiphanes was killed by their cousin Antiochus X Eusebes. The next year Antiochus X killed Antiochus XI. Antiochus X was probably killed in 88 B.C. Philip's younger brother Demetrius III turned on Philip I and took the capital, but the Philip I prevailed and took Antioch. Their youngest brother Antiochus XII took Damascus. Philip I tried to take Damascus, after which he disappears from the historical record, which does not tell us how or when he died. His death is traditionally dated 83 B.C. but Numismatic evidence and clues in ancient literature indicate that Philip I might have died in 75 B.C. His coins remained in circulation when the Romans conquered Syria in 64 B.C. Roman authorities in Syria continued to issue coins modeled on Philip I's coins, including his portrait, until 13 B.C.
GY113434. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2463(2)i, SNG Spaer 2803, Newell SMA 441, HGC 9 1319, BMC Seleucid -, gVF, toned, light encrustations, obv. off center, weight 15.904 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 88/7 - 83/75 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Philip I Philadelphos right, bulging eye, pouting lips, pronounced aquiline nose, fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, Zeus seated left on high-backed throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike presenting wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left, .I.(Φ)/A outer left, N inner left, (frozen control monogram) below throne, all within laurel wreath; ex Leu Numismatik auction 26 (13 July 2023), lot 6961 (part of); $350.00 (€329.00)


Roman Provincial Syria, Lot of 13 Bronze Coins, c. 30 B.C. - 250 A.D.

|Multiple| |Coin| |Lots|, |Roman| |Provincial| |Syria,| |Lot| |of| |13| |Bronze| |Coins,| |c.| |30| |B.C.| |-| |250| |A.D.||Lot|NEW
The following list was provided by the consignor and has not been verified by FORVM:
1) Augustus, AE24 As (11.2g), Cypriot mint, 27-23 B.C., CAISAR (sic), bare head right / AVGVSTVS in two lines in laurel wreath, RIC I 485, RPC I 2231.
2) Augustus, AE20, Berytus, Phoenicia, RPC I 4540.
3) Tiberius, AE26, RPC I 4270.
4) Nero, AE26, Antioch, RPC I 4307, countermark, RPC I lists two specimens with different countermarks.
5) Domitian. AE as, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, laureate head left / large S C within laurel wreath, McAlee 409(b).
6) Trajan, AE18, Cyrrhestica, Beroea, legend in wreath, RPC I 3431.
7) Askalon, Judaea, AE16, Year 26 = 116/7 AD, veiled bust of Tyche right / galley right.
8) Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus, AE20, Aradus, Phoenicia, humped bull charging right. BMC 379.
9) Phoenicia, Tyre, Elagabalus, Æ29, IMP CAES M AV ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, oval countermark of Melqart right / SEPTIM TVRO / COLO Astarte standing left, holding scepter and crowning trophy to left, palm tree to inner left, murex shell to inner right, to outer right, column surmounted by crowning Nike left, cf. BMC Tyre 390; c/m: Howgego 15, Ex Richard Baker collection.
10) Elagabalus, AE16 (3.87g), Wreath around SC.
11) Elagabalus, AE19, Antioch, radiate head right / SC in wreath, ram right, head turned back, McAlee 791a.
12) Elagabalus, AE20, radiate head right / SC and eagle in wreath, aVF.
13) Philip I, AE32, Antioch, Syria, Tyche.
LT110949. Bronze Lot, 13 Roman provincial Syria bronze coins, 14.6mm - 28.8mm, mostly F, c. 30 B.C. - 250 A.D.; no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photograph, as-is, no returns, 13 coins; $300.00 (€282.00)


Lot of 13 Greek Bronze Coins, Syria and The Levant, c. 200 B.C. - 100 A.D.

|Multiple| |Coin| |Lots|, |Lot| |of| |13| |Greek| |Bronze| |Coins,| |Syria| |and| |The| |Levant,| |c.| |200| |B.C.| |-| |100| |A.D.||Lot|NEW
There are collector tags with the lot but they have not been verified by FORVM, and the coins and tags are not in flips. It will likely be a challenging, and hopefully fun, project to match the coins to the tags.
LT113398. Bronze Lot, 13 Greek bronze coins from Syria and the Levant, 15.7mm - 23.9mm, Average F - VF, c. 200 B.C. - 100 A.D.; no tags or flips, the actual coins in the photograph, as-is, no returns, 13 coins; $180.00 (€169.20)


Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D., Antioch, Syria

|Antioch|, |Domitian,| |13| |September| |81| |-| |18| |September| |96| |A.D.,| |Antioch,| |Syria||AE| |26|
The ruins of Antioch on the Orontes lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. Founded near the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch's geographic, military and economic location, particularly the spice trade, the Silk Road, the Persian Royal Road, benefited its occupants, and eventually it rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the Near East and as the main center of Hellenistic Judaism at the end of the Second Temple period. Antioch is called "the cradle of Christianity," for the pivotal early role it played in the emergence of the faith. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents are known as Antiochenes. Once a great metropolis of half a million people, it declined to insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes and a change in trade routes following the Mongol conquests, which then no longer passed through Antioch from the far east.6th Century Antioch
CM112118. Bronze AE 26, RPC II 2022g (2 spec.); McAlee 407g (ex rare); countermark: Howgego 245, gF, tight flan cutting off most of legend, marks, weight 11.872 g, maximum diameter 25.6 mm, die axis 0o, 7th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 81 - 83 A.D.; obverse IMP DOMITIANVS CAES AVG, laureate head right; countermark: Athena standing right in 6x4mm rectangular punch, spear vertical behind in her right, left hand resting on grounded shield; reverse large S C (senatus consulto), Z (7th officina) below, within laurel wreath with eight bunches of leaves; from the Michael Arslan Collection; extremely rare; $120.00 (€112.80)


Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Roman Provincial Syria

|Antioch|, |Tiberius,| |19| |August| |14| |-| |16| |March| |37| |A.D.,| |Roman| |Provincial| |Syria||as|
The ruins of Antioch on the Orontes lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. Founded near the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch's geographic, military and economic location, particularly the spice trade, the Silk Road, the Persian Royal Road, benefited its occupants, and eventually it rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the Near East and as the main center of Hellenistic Judaism at the end of the Second Temple period. Antioch is called "the cradle of Christianity," for the pivotal early role it played in the emergence of the faith. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents are known as Antiochenes. Once a great metropolis of half a million people, it declined to insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes and a change in trade routes following the Mongol conquests, which then no longer passed through Antioch from the far east.
RY112246. Bronze as, McAlee 217(e)/2, RPC I 4272, VF, dark and earthen patina, weight 14.713 g, maximum diameter 28.1 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 31 - 32 A.D.; obverse TI CAESAR AVG TR POT XXXIII, laureate head right; reverse large S•C, linear inner border around, all within a laurel wreath of six bunches of leaves; $120.00 (€112.80)


Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria

|Antioch|, |Tiberius,| |19| |August| |14| |-| |16| |March| |37| |A.D.,| |Antioch,| |Seleucis| |and| |Pieria,| |Syria||semis|
32 A.D. is a traditional date of the crucifixion of Jesus.
RY112382. Bronze semis, McAlee 218(c), RPC Online I 4273, Wruck 15b var. (dot above),, VF, porous, a little off center, weight 8.852 g, maximum diameter 21.8 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 31 - 32 A.D.; obverse TI CAESAR AVG TR POT XXXIII, laureate head right; reverse large S•C, dot to left, linear inner border around, all within a laurel wreath, outer dot border; $110.00 (€103.40)


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus VI Dionysus, 144 - c. 142 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |VI| |Dionysus,| |144| |-| |c.| |142| |B.C.||AE| |21|
After his father was deposed by Demetrius II, the general Diodotus Tryphon nominated Antiochus VI as king. He gained the allegiance of most of the Seleucid domain, including Judaea, but was actually only a puppet of the general. He died after "ruling" for two years. He was likely assassinated under orders from Tryphon, who then made himself king.
GY112984. Bronze serrated AE 21, Houghton-Lorber II 2006, HGC 9 143 (C-S), VF/F, well centered, green patina, reverse a little rough, central dimples, weight 6.882 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. mid-143 - 142 B.C.; obverse radiate head of Antiochos VI right, wearing ivy wreath; obscure countermark; reverse elephant walking left, holding torch in trunk, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines above, EΠIΦANOYΣ ΔIONYΣOY in two lines in exergue, ΣTA over uncertain second control symbol right; $110.00 (€103.40)


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus VII Euergetes Sidetes, 138 - 129 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |VII| |Euergetes| |Sidetes,| |138| |-| |129| |B.C.||AE| |12|
David Hendin identifies the mint city as Jerusalem. Some numismatists have attributed this type to Askalon. Houghton and Lorber attribute it to an uncertain mint in southern Koile-Syria.
GY111516. Bronze AE 12, Houghton-Lorber II 2122, SNG Spaer 2095, Houghton CSE 819, Hendin 6166 (Jerusalem mint), HGC 9 1111, VF, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, rev. off center, weight 1.108 g, maximum diameter 11.8 mm, die axis 45o, southern Koile-Syria (?, uncertain) mint, 138 - 137 B.C.; obverse crested Boeotian helmet with cheek guards; reverse ANTIOXOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, aphlaston; this is the first specimen of this type handled by FORVM, ex Zuzim Inc. (Isadore Goldstein, Brooklyn, NY); $100.00 (€94.00)




  






REFERENCES|

American Numismatic Society Collections Database - http://numismatics.org/search/search.
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Catalog current as of Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
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