ANCIENT COINS, GREEK COINS, Kingdom of Syria, Seleukid Kings, Antiochos IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, mint of Antioch, struck 166 BC, head of Apollo facing right, wearing a laurel-wreath, rev BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY, Apollo, wearing a long peplos, standing facing right, holding a patera and a kithara, 16.23g, 12h (Houghton & Lorber, SC 1401; Newell, SMA 64; Houghton 110; Gulbenkian 1040). Well-struck on a broad flan, of superb style and with a light iridescent tone, about extremely fine, extremely rare.
ex Abramowitz Family Collection, Superior auctions, 8 December 1993, lot 304
This exceptionally beautiful coin is extremely rare, with approximately ten examples known to have survived from antiquity. It has been suggested that the figure of Apollo on the reverse might be a depiction of the cult statue of Apollo at Daphne, by the 4th Century sculptor Bryaxis.
Estimate: £7000-9000