Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3057 7-8 Sep 2017
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC). AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.25 gm, 6h). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5, edge punch. Susa, after ca. 295 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ, Athena, holding spear and shield, driving biga of elephants right; spear head above, MΩ to right. SC 177.2. HGC 9, 18c. Very rare.
The Seleucus I tetradrachms with a biga of elephants on the reverse are significantly rarer than those with a quadriga of elephants. The most prolific issue of the quadriga type was produced by Seleucia on the Tigris, to which Oliver Hoover, in The Handbook of Greek Coins, assigns a rarity rating of Common to Scarce. There were a total of 43 different reverse varieties used at this mint according to Houghton and Lorber (SC 130), meaning the output was quite significant. The only mint to produce the reverse type with a biga of elephants, however, was Susa (SC 177 and HGC 9, 18c), which had only six emissions, suggesting the output was less than 15% that of Seleucia.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1200-1500 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC). AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.25 gm, 6h). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5, edge punch. Susa, after ca. 295 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ, Athena, holding spear and shield, driving biga of elephants right; spear head above, MΩ to right. SC 177.2. HGC 9, 18c. Very rare.
The Seleucus I tetradrachms with a biga of elephants on the reverse are significantly rarer than those with a quadriga of elephants. The most prolific issue of the quadriga type was produced by Seleucia on the Tigris, to which Oliver Hoover, in The Handbook of Greek Coins, assigns a rarity rating of Common to Scarce. There were a total of 43 different reverse varieties used at this mint according to Houghton and Lorber (SC 130), meaning the output was quite significant. The only mint to produce the reverse type with a biga of elephants, however, was Susa (SC 177 and HGC 9, 18c), which had only six emissions, suggesting the output was less than 15% that of Seleucia.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1200-1500 USD