Syria. Antiochus Soter. Seleuceia ad Tigrim. 270-267 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.14g, 3h). SC 379.3c; Tradart 3.83 (this coin). Very rare. Lightly toned. Perfectly centered and struck in high relief. One of the finest known. Superb extremely fine. From a private collection; Tradart 1994 (4) lot 104

The obverse features the diademed Antiochus in his old age. His portrait was introduced to the coinage around 278 BC, along with a reverse design which was to become the standard Seleucid type of of the middle Hellenistic period. The figure of Apollo seated on his omphalos - a sacred conical stone - reflects the role played by Antiochus in shaping the cult of Apollo in Syria