Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3042 17-18 Sep 2015
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC). AR tetradrachm (32mm, 16.54 gm, 12h). Antioch, 168 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚHΦΟΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, holding scepter in left hand, and in right hand Nike crowning the word "ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ." SC 1399. HGC 9 621 (R1-2). Le Rider, Antioche, p. 203, nos. 253-272, pl. 23, 14. Newell SMA 63. Houghton I 107. Struck from dies of wonderful style, featuring a superb head of Zeus in the finest Hellenistic style. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing.A dynamic and eccentric ruler, Antiochus IV introduced a number of major innovations in the Seleucid coinage, replacing the long-traditional reverse of Apollo seated on omphalos with his own personal emblem of Zeus enthroned and adding the epithet "Epiphanes" -- "God Manifest" -- to his royal titulature. Following his second invasion of Egypt in 168 BC, he struck a series of tetradrachms replacing his own portrait with divine images of Zeus and Apollo rendered in the finest artistry of the era, a striking reversion to the pre-Hellenistic practice of depicting Olympian deities on coins. That Antiochus saw himself as akin to the gods, or one himself, is evident from his epithet and his actions. His hubris eventually led him to attempt to impose Greek-style worship on the Jews of the Levant, leading to the revolt of the Maccabbees, and to attempt the reconquest of the Eastern provinces lost to the Seleucid kingdom decades before. During the latter campaign in 165 BC, he abruptly fell ill and died, giving lie to his pretensions of godhead.
Estimate: 2000-3000 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC). AR tetradrachm (32mm, 16.54 gm, 12h). Antioch, 168 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚHΦΟΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, holding scepter in left hand, and in right hand Nike crowning the word "ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ." SC 1399. HGC 9 621 (R1-2). Le Rider, Antioche, p. 203, nos. 253-272, pl. 23, 14. Newell SMA 63. Houghton I 107. Struck from dies of wonderful style, featuring a superb head of Zeus in the finest Hellenistic style. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing.A dynamic and eccentric ruler, Antiochus IV introduced a number of major innovations in the Seleucid coinage, replacing the long-traditional reverse of Apollo seated on omphalos with his own personal emblem of Zeus enthroned and adding the epithet "Epiphanes" -- "God Manifest" -- to his royal titulature. Following his second invasion of Egypt in 168 BC, he struck a series of tetradrachms replacing his own portrait with divine images of Zeus and Apollo rendered in the finest artistry of the era, a striking reversion to the pre-Hellenistic practice of depicting Olympian deities on coins. That Antiochus saw himself as akin to the gods, or one himself, is evident from his epithet and his actions. His hubris eventually led him to attempt to impose Greek-style worship on the Jews of the Levant, leading to the revolt of the Maccabbees, and to attempt the reconquest of the Eastern provinces lost to the Seleucid kingdom decades before. During the latter campaign in 165 BC, he abruptly fell ill and died, giving lie to his pretensions of godhead.
Estimate: 2000-3000 USD