Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVI 26 Sep 2018
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Seleukid Empire, Seleukos II Kallinikos AV Stater. Uncertain western mint, circa 246-225 BC. Diademed head right / Apollo, nude, standing to left and examining arrow held in right hand, left hand resting on grounded bow; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΣEΛEYKOY to left. SC 720; HGC 9, 299f; CSE 1158; Arthur Houghton, The Tarik Derreh (Kangavar) Hoard in ANSMN 25, 1980, 25-27 and plate 5, 26 (same obv. die). 8.52g, 19mm, 2h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only four known examples.
Originally attributed to Ekbatana by Houghton (ANSMN 25, 1980, pp. 43), this issue has recently been reassessed by Houghton and Lorber in Seleukid Coins and assigned to an unknown western mint. The difficulty in attribution, besides the obvious lack of mintmarks, seems to concern both the style of the portrait and the reliance upon the location of the hoard that contained most of the known examples as a reflection of whence the coins originated.
The closest parallel to the portrait of this coin is SC 719, attributed to Laodikeia by the Sea, being particularly similar in the breaks and modelling of the hair. However, Houghton and Lorber separate these two issues by arguing that it cannot be securely attributed to the same mint, given differences of style. Why then can it not be attributed to Ekbatana as Houghton originally suggested? Within the hoard there were three coins of the type, struck from identical obverse dies, all in mint condition. Houghton argued that the proximity of their find-spot to the ancient city of Ekbatana, coupled with a stater identified by Newell as from Ekbatana which similarly lacks identifying marks, is evidence enough to assign this type to Ekbatana. However, it is noted that this is problematic, especially considering the vertical die axes of the coins, and instead decides an unknown mint to be the best option.
Seleukos II was born in circa 265 BC, the first son of Antiochos II and his first wife Laodike. In 252 BC Antiochos II repudiated Laodike and sent her to Ephesos in order to marry the daughter of his enemy Ptolemy II and seal a peace treaty that ended the Second Syrian War. In 246 BC, Ptolemy II died, shortly followed by Antiochos II, leaving the dynastic succession in a state of confusion. Antiochos II had begot a son with Ptolemy's daughter, Berenike, and named him Antiochos, however there were rumours that before his death he had returned to Laodike and declared Seleukos II his rightful heir. With his father's death, Seleukos II became king with his younger brother Antiochos Hierax named joint-ruler in Sardis. Their mother Laodike had Berenike and her son murdered to avoid any competition for the throne, thus sparking the Third Syrian War, also known as the Laodikean War, which saw Berenike's brother Ptolemy III invade the Seleukid Empire to avenge his sister. This was not the end of Seleukos' troubles, as his younger brother Antiochos Hierax soon launched a rebellion against him aided by their mother. However, after a victory for Antiochos Hierax at the Battle of Ankyra in circa 239 BC, his usurpation was ultimately unsuccessful and Seleukos II would eventually be succeeded by his eldest son, Seleukos III Soter.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only four known examples.
Originally attributed to Ekbatana by Houghton (ANSMN 25, 1980, pp. 43), this issue has recently been reassessed by Houghton and Lorber in Seleukid Coins and assigned to an unknown western mint. The difficulty in attribution, besides the obvious lack of mintmarks, seems to concern both the style of the portrait and the reliance upon the location of the hoard that contained most of the known examples as a reflection of whence the coins originated.
The closest parallel to the portrait of this coin is SC 719, attributed to Laodikeia by the Sea, being particularly similar in the breaks and modelling of the hair. However, Houghton and Lorber separate these two issues by arguing that it cannot be securely attributed to the same mint, given differences of style. Why then can it not be attributed to Ekbatana as Houghton originally suggested? Within the hoard there were three coins of the type, struck from identical obverse dies, all in mint condition. Houghton argued that the proximity of their find-spot to the ancient city of Ekbatana, coupled with a stater identified by Newell as from Ekbatana which similarly lacks identifying marks, is evidence enough to assign this type to Ekbatana. However, it is noted that this is problematic, especially considering the vertical die axes of the coins, and instead decides an unknown mint to be the best option.
Seleukos II was born in circa 265 BC, the first son of Antiochos II and his first wife Laodike. In 252 BC Antiochos II repudiated Laodike and sent her to Ephesos in order to marry the daughter of his enemy Ptolemy II and seal a peace treaty that ended the Second Syrian War. In 246 BC, Ptolemy II died, shortly followed by Antiochos II, leaving the dynastic succession in a state of confusion. Antiochos II had begot a son with Ptolemy's daughter, Berenike, and named him Antiochos, however there were rumours that before his death he had returned to Laodike and declared Seleukos II his rightful heir. With his father's death, Seleukos II became king with his younger brother Antiochos Hierax named joint-ruler in Sardis. Their mother Laodike had Berenike and her son murdered to avoid any competition for the throne, thus sparking the Third Syrian War, also known as the Laodikean War, which saw Berenike's brother Ptolemy III invade the Seleukid Empire to avenge his sister. This was not the end of Seleukos' troubles, as his younger brother Antiochos Hierax soon launched a rebellion against him aided by their mother. However, after a victory for Antiochos Hierax at the Battle of Ankyra in circa 239 BC, his usurpation was ultimately unsuccessful and Seleukos II would eventually be succeeded by his eldest son, Seleukos III Soter.