Nomos AG
obolos 26 18 Dec 2022
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SELEUKID KINGS. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Drachm (Silver, 15.5 mm, 4.16 g, 9 h), Antioch, circa 149/8-148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ / ΘΣOΠATOΡOΣ (sic) EΥEΡΓETOΥ Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in right hand and supporting bow set on ground with left; in exergue, monogram. HGC 9, 887a. SC 1785.5b. Strike a bit crude, and probably imitative, otherwise, good very fine.
The somewhat crude strike and error in the legend (ΘΣOΠATOΡOΣ instead of ΘEOΠATOΡOΣ) suggests this coin is probably imitative and not an official issue of the Seleukid mint at Antioch. The coins of Balas from Antioch, as they are for other Seleukid kings, are usually quite well made, from good dies, and do not often contain misspellings, indicating tight control by officials at the mint.
The somewhat crude strike and error in the legend (ΘΣOΠATOΡOΣ instead of ΘEOΠATOΡOΣ) suggests this coin is probably imitative and not an official issue of the Seleukid mint at Antioch. The coins of Balas from Antioch, as they are for other Seleukid kings, are usually quite well made, from good dies, and do not often contain misspellings, indicating tight control by officials at the mint.