Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 6 23 Oct 2020
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SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII, 126/5-121/0 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.66 g, 1 h), Antiochia on the Orontes, early 122-121 (?) BC. Jugate busts of Cleopatra Thea, diademed, veiled and wearing a stephane, and Antiochos VIII, diademed, to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ / ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ - ΚΑΙ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; to outer left, IE above A; below throne, Σ. SC 2262.2b (this coin). A clear, well struck and attractive example. About extremely fine.
From the Kleinkunst Collection, ex Leu 61, 17-18 May 1995, 177.
Cleopatra Thea went down in history as one of the most ambitious and ruthless Seleukid queens. She was a daughter of Ptolemy VI Philometor and his sister-wife Cleopatra II and married to no less than three Seleukid kings: Alexander Balas, Demetrios II and Antiochos VII Sidetes, the latter of whom were brothers. Antiochos VII died in 129 BC while campaigning against the Parthians, whereas Demetrios II, who had been a Parthian captive for ten years, was murdered by his former wife Cleopatra after his defeat against Alexander II Zabinas in 126 BC. The cold-blooded queen then established herself as sole ruler for a few months before accepting Antiochos VIII, her second son by Demetrios II, as co-ruler in 126/5 BC. But the apple never falls far from the tree, and the young king murdered his own mother a few years later, in 121 BC, allegedly by forcing her to drink poisoned wine she had prepared for him - what a lovely family!
From the Kleinkunst Collection, ex Leu 61, 17-18 May 1995, 177.
Cleopatra Thea went down in history as one of the most ambitious and ruthless Seleukid queens. She was a daughter of Ptolemy VI Philometor and his sister-wife Cleopatra II and married to no less than three Seleukid kings: Alexander Balas, Demetrios II and Antiochos VII Sidetes, the latter of whom were brothers. Antiochos VII died in 129 BC while campaigning against the Parthians, whereas Demetrios II, who had been a Parthian captive for ten years, was murdered by his former wife Cleopatra after his defeat against Alexander II Zabinas in 126 BC. The cold-blooded queen then established herself as sole ruler for a few months before accepting Antiochos VIII, her second son by Demetrios II, as co-ruler in 126/5 BC. But the apple never falls far from the tree, and the young king murdered his own mother a few years later, in 121 BC, allegedly by forcing her to drink poisoned wine she had prepared for him - what a lovely family!