Nomos AG
obolos 17 20 Dec 2020
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COMMAGENE. Uncertain mint. Imitating the types of Demetrios I Soter, 162-150 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17 mm, 2.75 g, 12 h), imitation struck in Commagene, time of Mithradates I, circa 96-70 BC. Diademed head of Demetrios I to right. Rev. ΔΗΤΡΙΟ / ΒΑCΙΛΕΩ / ΕΥEΕΒΟ[Υ?] (sic) Cornucopia. HGC 9, 807. Cf. SC 1768. Toned. Very fine.
This interesting drachm is a fairly common Commagenian imitation of the Seleukid king Demetrios I (152-145 BC), normally attributed to the reigns of either Samos II Theosebes Dikaios (130-109) or Mithradates I Kallinikos (96-70), but in this case probably struck during the reign of the latter. It is characterized by a good style portrait of the Seleukid king with a legend, which although blundered, clearly names king Demetrios. Here, however, we have a new title: Eusebes ("the Pius or Righteous"). Demetrios I never used this title nor was it used by any Seleukid ruler except Antiochos X (94-88), although it was used by several rulers of the nearby Parthian Kingdom. Considering the lunate form of the Greek letter Σ in ΒΑCΙΛΕΩ, which was also frequently used in legends on Parthian coins, it may ultimately derive from a late second or early first century Parthian drachm.
This interesting drachm is a fairly common Commagenian imitation of the Seleukid king Demetrios I (152-145 BC), normally attributed to the reigns of either Samos II Theosebes Dikaios (130-109) or Mithradates I Kallinikos (96-70), but in this case probably struck during the reign of the latter. It is characterized by a good style portrait of the Seleukid king with a legend, which although blundered, clearly names king Demetrios. Here, however, we have a new title: Eusebes ("the Pius or Righteous"). Demetrios I never used this title nor was it used by any Seleukid ruler except Antiochos X (94-88), although it was used by several rulers of the nearby Parthian Kingdom. Considering the lunate form of the Greek letter Σ in ΒΑCΙΛΕΩ, which was also frequently used in legends on Parthian coins, it may ultimately derive from a late second or early first century Parthian drachm.