Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Antiochus I Soter, 281 – 261.
Stater, Aï Khanoum circa 266-261, AV 8.50 g. Diademed head right, with elderly features. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩ[Σ] – ANTIOX[OY] Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding bow and arrow; above, monogram and in inner l. field, monogram. ESM 699. SC 435.2.
Rare. A bold portrait struck in high relief, minor marks, otherwise extremely fine
The style and monograms of this gold stater identify it as an issue of the somewhat mysterious mint of Aï Khanoum ("Lady Moon"), the Uzbek name for the extensive ruins of a Hellenistic Greek city near the Oxus River. To date, the ancient Greek name of the city remains uncertain, but it is often identified with Alexandria Oxiana, a settlement founded by Alexander the Great during his campaigns to pacify Bactria in 329-327 BC. Following the eastern conquests of Seleucus I Nicator in c. 305 BC, Bactria was incorporated into the Seleucid Empire. It has been suggested that Aï Khanoum subsequently became the Seleucid royal capital in Bactria, although there remains some question regarding the status of the city in relation to Bactra (Balkh), the most important city in Bactria prior to Alexander the Great. Realising that the Seleucid Empire was too vast for a single king to adequately rule, in c. 292 BC, Seleucus I appointed his son Antiochus to rule as king in the Upper Satrapies (territories east of the Tigris River, including Bactria). It is thought that he was especially suited for the task in these largely Iranian territories since he was himself half-Iranian through his mother, the Bactrian princess Apama. His ancestry may have been used as a tool to partially assuage anti-Macedonian sentiment among the native peoples of the Upper Satrapies. It is believed that Aï Khanoum served as the primary residence of Antiochus I while he reigned as king alongside his father, perhaps in order to monitor and manage the threat posed by nomadic steppe peoples like the Parni, who later overwhelmed the defences of Parthia under Antiochus II and eventually caused the loss of the entire eastern Seleucid Empire in the late second century BC. Antiochus I still appears to have been holding the East firm when Seleucus I was assassinated in 281 BC. This event sent shockwaves through the empire and sparked revolts in Asia Minor and Syria. Antiochus I, now sole ruler of the Seleucid Empire, was forced to march west to crush the revolts and was destined to spend the bulk of his reign dealing with the problems of the western territories and the menace posed to them by Ptolemaic Egypt. Nevertheless, Bactria seems to have continued to be administered from Aï Khanoum and the city's mint continued to strike coinage in the name of Antiochus I. This rare gold stater features the standard Apollo on omphalos type that was introduced by Antiochus I for Seleucid precious metal coinage around c. 278 BC. The inner left control consists of a delta within a circle and appears to have been a mintmark of Aï Khanoum. A similar monogram also occurs on clay roof tiles found during the excavation of the city.
Stater, Aï Khanoum circa 266-261, AV 8.50 g. Diademed head right, with elderly features. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩ[Σ] – ANTIOX[OY] Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding bow and arrow; above, monogram and in inner l. field, monogram. ESM 699. SC 435.2.
Rare. A bold portrait struck in high relief, minor marks, otherwise extremely fine
The style and monograms of this gold stater identify it as an issue of the somewhat mysterious mint of Aï Khanoum ("Lady Moon"), the Uzbek name for the extensive ruins of a Hellenistic Greek city near the Oxus River. To date, the ancient Greek name of the city remains uncertain, but it is often identified with Alexandria Oxiana, a settlement founded by Alexander the Great during his campaigns to pacify Bactria in 329-327 BC. Following the eastern conquests of Seleucus I Nicator in c. 305 BC, Bactria was incorporated into the Seleucid Empire. It has been suggested that Aï Khanoum subsequently became the Seleucid royal capital in Bactria, although there remains some question regarding the status of the city in relation to Bactra (Balkh), the most important city in Bactria prior to Alexander the Great. Realising that the Seleucid Empire was too vast for a single king to adequately rule, in c. 292 BC, Seleucus I appointed his son Antiochus to rule as king in the Upper Satrapies (territories east of the Tigris River, including Bactria). It is thought that he was especially suited for the task in these largely Iranian territories since he was himself half-Iranian through his mother, the Bactrian princess Apama. His ancestry may have been used as a tool to partially assuage anti-Macedonian sentiment among the native peoples of the Upper Satrapies. It is believed that Aï Khanoum served as the primary residence of Antiochus I while he reigned as king alongside his father, perhaps in order to monitor and manage the threat posed by nomadic steppe peoples like the Parni, who later overwhelmed the defences of Parthia under Antiochus II and eventually caused the loss of the entire eastern Seleucid Empire in the late second century BC. Antiochus I still appears to have been holding the East firm when Seleucus I was assassinated in 281 BC. This event sent shockwaves through the empire and sparked revolts in Asia Minor and Syria. Antiochus I, now sole ruler of the Seleucid Empire, was forced to march west to crush the revolts and was destined to spend the bulk of his reign dealing with the problems of the western territories and the menace posed to them by Ptolemaic Egypt. Nevertheless, Bactria seems to have continued to be administered from Aï Khanoum and the city's mint continued to strike coinage in the name of Antiochus I. This rare gold stater features the standard Apollo on omphalos type that was introduced by Antiochus I for Seleucid precious metal coinage around c. 278 BC. The inner left control consists of a delta within a circle and appears to have been a mintmark of Aï Khanoum. A similar monogram also occurs on clay roof tiles found during the excavation of the city.