Nomos AG
obolos 16 11 Oct 2020
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KINGS OF COMMAGENE. Antiochos IV Epiphanes, with Iotape, AD 38-40 and 41-72. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20 mm, 8.05 g, 12 h), early series, Samosata, c. 38-40 or 41-54. ΒΑCΙΛЄΩ[C / YIOI] The young princes, Epiphanes and Callinicus on horseback to left. Rev. KOMMAΓHNΩN Capricorn to right, with star behind and anchor below; all within laurel wreath. ACV 226. Kovacs 241. RPC 3861. Dark green patina. Very fine.
Neither of the young princes shown on the obverse of this coin ever had the chance to rule in their own right. Their father, Antiochos IV Epiphanes, was accused by the Roman governor of Syria of plotting with the Parthians, and thus was removed from his throne and his kingdom was abolished, the lands being incorporated into the Roman province of Syria. Antiochos then retired to Rome, where he was well received and lived several more years, thus indicating that the accusation of the Syrian governor appear was simply a calculated land-grab. Such were the politics of Rome, where a governor could - and most often did - increase his wealth exponentially at the expense of those he governed.
Neither of the young princes shown on the obverse of this coin ever had the chance to rule in their own right. Their father, Antiochos IV Epiphanes, was accused by the Roman governor of Syria of plotting with the Parthians, and thus was removed from his throne and his kingdom was abolished, the lands being incorporated into the Roman province of Syria. Antiochos then retired to Rome, where he was well received and lived several more years, thus indicating that the accusation of the Syrian governor appear was simply a calculated land-grab. Such were the politics of Rome, where a governor could - and most often did - increase his wealth exponentially at the expense of those he governed.