Nomos AG
Auction 25 20 Nov 2022
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SELEUKID KINGS. Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 16.91 g, 8 h), Susa, 305/4-295. Head of Alexander the Great as Dionysos to right, wearing helmet covered with a panther skin and adorned with a bull's horn and ear, and with a panther skin tied around his shoulders. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Nike walking to right, placing wreath on trophy of arms to right; to left and right of Nike's legs, monogram. CSE 1023. HGC 9, 20. ESM 426. Kraay/Hirmer 740. SC 173.4. Clearly struck and nicely centered on a broad flan. About extremely fine.
Alexander the Great appears on this coin with some of the attributes of Dionysos, as part of a complex program of imagery that served to identify the conquests of Alexander in India with the god's own legendary conquests there. The portrait also was meant to remind users of the coin that Seleukos had repeated Alexander's conquests through his defeat of Chandragupta in 304.
Alexander the Great appears on this coin with some of the attributes of Dionysos, as part of a complex program of imagery that served to identify the conquests of Alexander in India with the god's own legendary conquests there. The portrait also was meant to remind users of the coin that Seleukos had repeated Alexander's conquests through his defeat of Chandragupta in 304.