Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 114 13-14 May 2020
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SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. 312-281 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 16.55 g, 4h). Susa mint. Struck circa 288/7 BC. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / Elephant advancing right; above, spearhead right; K below. SC 187.1b; ESMS ElSt.5–6 var. (unlisted dies); ESM 330; HGC 9, –; CNG 91, lot 354 (hammer $32,500). Underlying luster, minor roughness, a couple of flan flaws and shallow cut on reverse. Good VF. Extremely rare, one of only 11 coins known for the type, the fourth with these control marks (two of which are in a public collection [Berlin]).
As at the great mint of Babylon, the mint of Susa struck coinage of both royal Seleukid type (on the Attic standard) and local native type (on a local standard). The native types mostly comprise the Ba'al/Lion types similar to those found at Babylon, but also this very rare Zeus/Elephant type. Although the extant examples are well cataloged, very little is known about the circumstances of the issue. As with all the 'native' coinage, we can only assume that they were used for a special localized purpose. Newell hypothesized that they were a temple or local trade currency.
As at the great mint of Babylon, the mint of Susa struck coinage of both royal Seleukid type (on the Attic standard) and local native type (on a local standard). The native types mostly comprise the Ba'al/Lion types similar to those found at Babylon, but also this very rare Zeus/Elephant type. Although the extant examples are well cataloged, very little is known about the circumstances of the issue. As with all the 'native' coinage, we can only assume that they were used for a special localized purpose. Newell hypothesized that they were a temple or local trade currency.