Watch List notes:

Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Tetradrachm; Antiochus IV Epiphanes; c. 166-165 BC, Tetradrachm, 16.79g. SC-1401 (only 10 recorded), Newell-SMA 64. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo r. Rx: Sculpture of Apollo Citharoedus created by the artist Bryaxis, wearing a long peplos, advancing r. playing lyre and holding patera; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY to r., EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY to l.This wonderful coin was one of the two commemorative coins struck for the Panhellenic festival that Antiochus IV created to compete with the festival the Romans were carrying on. The festival lasted about 30 days and had many parades, dinners, and athletic events. This coin depicts a real statue of Apollo that was shown at the games. This coin with head of Apollo on obverse is considerably rarer than its companion piece showing head of Zeus, so may be considered one of the most desirable coins issued by the Seleucid kings. All but one of the known specimens are of the same grade with the same toning, suggesting that they all derive from a single find dispersed before 1980. We have offered this coin more than once, but it seems that its importance has not been recognized. We still have great confidence in it . Toned Bold VF