Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 477 23 Sep 2020
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SELEUKID EMPIRE. Posthumous Issues of Antiochos IV. 146/5 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 4.30 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right / Apollo, testing arrow and resting hand on bow, seated left on omphalos; monogram in exergue. SC 1886f; Mørkholm, Posthumous 12; HGC 9, 745. Lustrous, slightly off center on obverse. EF.
In the final year of Alexander I Balas' reign, Demetrios II Nikator, seeking to avenge the death of his father, Demetrios I Soter, advanced on Alexander from Cilicia, supported by troops of Ptolemy VI of Egypt that advanced from Palestine. Alexander fled from Antioch to rally his forces at a chosen location to the east. Between this time and the arrival of Demetrios' forces, Antioch struck a very short series of tetradrachms and drachms in the name of Antiochos IV. A number of the tetradrachms are dated, confirming this chronology. Although the drachms are undated, they also carry the three-line legend and "older" portrait style of the tetradrachms, both of which are not found in the lifetime issues of Antiochos. While the chronology is certain, the purpose of the issue remains unknown.
In the final year of Alexander I Balas' reign, Demetrios II Nikator, seeking to avenge the death of his father, Demetrios I Soter, advanced on Alexander from Cilicia, supported by troops of Ptolemy VI of Egypt that advanced from Palestine. Alexander fled from Antioch to rally his forces at a chosen location to the east. Between this time and the arrival of Demetrios' forces, Antioch struck a very short series of tetradrachms and drachms in the name of Antiochos IV. A number of the tetradrachms are dated, confirming this chronology. Although the drachms are undated, they also carry the three-line legend and "older" portrait style of the tetradrachms, both of which are not found in the lifetime issues of Antiochos. While the chronology is certain, the purpose of the issue remains unknown.