Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Seleukid Empire, Antiochos XI Epiphanes Philadelphos, with Philip I, AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint 127 in Cilicia (Tarsos?), circa 94-93 BC. Diademed, bearded and jugate heads of Antiochos and Philip to right; within filleted border / Zeus Nikephoros seated to left, holding long lotus-tipped sceptre; [Β]ΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟXΟΥ to right, ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to left, C-Φ-ω-(monogram) arranged vertically to outer left, further monogram under throne; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2437 (same obv. die as illustration); Houghton, 'The Double Portrait Coins', 5 (A3/- [unlisted rev. die] - Beroea mint?); Jameson 1761 (same obv. die); HGC 9, 1296 (same obv. die as illustration); Heritage 3064, lot 30182 (same obv. die). 15.12g, 28mm, 12h.
Good Extremely Fine; exhibiting a marvellous old cabinet tone. Exceedingly rare and of significant numismatic and historical interest; among the most coveted of Seleukid coins and arguably the finest of the five specimens to have come to auction in the past twenty years.
This exceedingly rare and much sought-after coin of the twin kings Antiochos XI and Philip I Philadelphoi ('brother-loving') marks a rare moment of kinship and unity amidst the tumultuous familial politics of the later Seleukid Kingdom. The twins were two of many children born to Antiochos VIII Grypos, who spent the majority of his reign (121-96 BC) in constant civil war with his half-brother Antiochos IX Kyzikenos (114-95 BC). After their elder brother Seleukos VI was murdered in Mopsos in 94 BC by a mob encouraged by their cousin Antiochos X, the twins raised a rebellion likely based at Tarsos and vengefully sacked the city of Mopsos. They then proclaimed their joint kingship with a series of silver tetradrachms depicting a jugate portrait, powerfully emphasising their similarity and unity, as they prepared for civil war against their cousin.
However when the invasion of Syria went ahead it seems to have been driven by Antiochos XI acting alone, since his coins struck at Antioch bear only his portrait and legend. Antiochos X reclaimed this city in early 93 BC, in a battle which saw Antiochos XI fall into the Orontes river and drown. His twin Philip I would have better fortune: after waging war against his cousin and two other brothers, Demetrios III and Antiochos XII in Phoenicia and Judaea, he ultimately saw off his rivals and ruled the greater part of a divided and ever-diminishing Seleukid realm until his death sometime between 83 BC (according to Appian) or 76-75 BC (as proposed by O. Hoover, 'Anomalous Tetradrachms', 2004, p. 296).
Good Extremely Fine; exhibiting a marvellous old cabinet tone. Exceedingly rare and of significant numismatic and historical interest; among the most coveted of Seleukid coins and arguably the finest of the five specimens to have come to auction in the past twenty years.
This exceedingly rare and much sought-after coin of the twin kings Antiochos XI and Philip I Philadelphoi ('brother-loving') marks a rare moment of kinship and unity amidst the tumultuous familial politics of the later Seleukid Kingdom. The twins were two of many children born to Antiochos VIII Grypos, who spent the majority of his reign (121-96 BC) in constant civil war with his half-brother Antiochos IX Kyzikenos (114-95 BC). After their elder brother Seleukos VI was murdered in Mopsos in 94 BC by a mob encouraged by their cousin Antiochos X, the twins raised a rebellion likely based at Tarsos and vengefully sacked the city of Mopsos. They then proclaimed their joint kingship with a series of silver tetradrachms depicting a jugate portrait, powerfully emphasising their similarity and unity, as they prepared for civil war against their cousin.
However when the invasion of Syria went ahead it seems to have been driven by Antiochos XI acting alone, since his coins struck at Antioch bear only his portrait and legend. Antiochos X reclaimed this city in early 93 BC, in a battle which saw Antiochos XI fall into the Orontes river and drown. His twin Philip I would have better fortune: after waging war against his cousin and two other brothers, Demetrios III and Antiochos XII in Phoenicia and Judaea, he ultimately saw off his rivals and ruled the greater part of a divided and ever-diminishing Seleukid realm until his death sometime between 83 BC (according to Appian) or 76-75 BC (as proposed by O. Hoover, 'Anomalous Tetradrachms', 2004, p. 296).