Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 106 4-5 Sep 2018
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Seleukid Kingdom. Seleukos I Nikator. Silver Drachm (3.81 g), 312-281 BC. Uncertain mint 18, in Areia, Margiana, or Baktria. Horned and bridled horse's head right. Reverse: [BAΣIΛEΩΣ] ΣEΛEYKOY, anchor. SC 256.2; ESM 752δ = CSE 1302 = Jameson 1657 (this coin); HGC 9, 40. A lovely example, boldly struck with light collection toning. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $400 - 500
From the Lee Rousseau Collection.
Newel believed this might be an early issue of Baktra, whose mint opened under the vice-regency of Antiochos I. The same types are also found on bronzes of Seleukeia on the Tigris (ESM 45-6). Both types appear to be personal emblems of Seleukos. The horse's head recalls Alexander's favorite mount Bucephalas (literally, "Ox-head") but may instead represent the horse whose speed enabled Seleukos' nocturnal flight from Babylon in 316; both of these famous horses were honored by the erection of monuments - that of Seleukos consisting of a horse's head and a golden helmet, still to be seen in Antioch at the time of Justinian. The horns, a Near Eastern symbol of supernatural power, signalize the heroism of the horse, just as they denote the apotheosis of Seleukos himself on certain of his numismatic portraits, particularly the posthumous portraits minted under Antiochos I. The anchor was the device on Seleukos' signet ring (Appian, Sur. 56). Appian recounts the legend that Seleukos's mother was advised in a dream to give her son a ring she should find, which proved to be an iron ring with an anchor engraved on it; it was further predicted in the dream that he would lose the ring at a place where he would be king, and he indeed lost it near the Euphrates.
From the Lee Rousseau Collection.
Newel believed this might be an early issue of Baktra, whose mint opened under the vice-regency of Antiochos I. The same types are also found on bronzes of Seleukeia on the Tigris (ESM 45-6). Both types appear to be personal emblems of Seleukos. The horse's head recalls Alexander's favorite mount Bucephalas (literally, "Ox-head") but may instead represent the horse whose speed enabled Seleukos' nocturnal flight from Babylon in 316; both of these famous horses were honored by the erection of monuments - that of Seleukos consisting of a horse's head and a golden helmet, still to be seen in Antioch at the time of Justinian. The horns, a Near Eastern symbol of supernatural power, signalize the heroism of the horse, just as they denote the apotheosis of Seleukos himself on certain of his numismatic portraits, particularly the posthumous portraits minted under Antiochos I. The anchor was the device on Seleukos' signet ring (Appian, Sur. 56). Appian recounts the legend that Seleukos's mother was advised in a dream to give her son a ring she should find, which proved to be an iron ring with an anchor engraved on it; it was further predicted in the dream that he would lose the ring at a place where he would be king, and he indeed lost it near the Euphrates.