Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3066 17 Aug 2018
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC). AR stater (22mm, 16.60 gm, 3h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 3/5. Local standard. Susa, ca. 288/7 BC. Laureate Head of Zeus right / Elephant advancing right; spearhead right above, K in exergue. SC 187.1b. Sharply struck with excellent details, areas of luster on well-toned surfaces with scattered areas of darker toning.
The Susa mint struck coinage of both royal Seleucid type (Attic standard) and local native type (local standard). The native types are mostly the Ba'al/Lion types, similar to those struck in Babylon, but also includes this very rare Zeus/Elephant type, known from approximately ten total examples. Although well cataloged, very little is known about the circumstances of the issue. Price (Alexander, p. 451) questioned the attribution to Susa, noting the monogram similarities to Ecbatana, however multiple control links to the elephant chariot series support Susa. Newell concluded they were a temple or local trade currency. Only one other example of this extremely rare issue is found in sales archives (Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 91 (19 September 2012), lot 354, realized $32,500).
HID02901242017
Estimate: 8000-12000 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC). AR stater (22mm, 16.60 gm, 3h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 3/5. Local standard. Susa, ca. 288/7 BC. Laureate Head of Zeus right / Elephant advancing right; spearhead right above, K in exergue. SC 187.1b. Sharply struck with excellent details, areas of luster on well-toned surfaces with scattered areas of darker toning.
The Susa mint struck coinage of both royal Seleucid type (Attic standard) and local native type (local standard). The native types are mostly the Ba'al/Lion types, similar to those struck in Babylon, but also includes this very rare Zeus/Elephant type, known from approximately ten total examples. Although well cataloged, very little is known about the circumstances of the issue. Price (Alexander, p. 451) questioned the attribution to Susa, noting the monogram similarities to Ecbatana, however multiple control links to the elephant chariot series support Susa. Newell concluded they were a temple or local trade currency. Only one other example of this extremely rare issue is found in sales archives (Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 91 (19 September 2012), lot 354, realized $32,500).
HID02901242017
Estimate: 8000-12000 USD