Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3033 8 August 2014
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Demetrius II, second reign (129-125 BC). AR tetradrachm (31mm, 16.73 gm, 12h). Sidon, dated SE 185 (128/7 BC). Diademed head of Demetrius II right, wearing long beard, bead and reel border / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ NIKATOΡOΣ, Zeus seated left on throne, holding Nike in right hand and scepter in left, ΣΙ, beneath the throne, date EΠΡ and MI monogram in exergue. SC 2187a. HGC 9, 1117e. DCA 225. Rare. An absolutely gorgeous specimen, well struck from dies of refined style. Incredible metal quality and toning! NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine StyleFrom The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.After spending nearly a decade in comfortable Parthian captivity, Demetrius II was released by his captors in a move to sow discord within the ranks of the invading Seleucid army of his brother and successor, Antiochus VII. The ploy worked beautifully and Antiochus VII was killed in the ensuing military debacle, leaving Demetrius II as sole ruler for the second time. His decade among the Parthians had changed him visibly -- he emerged with a long, flowing beard, much against Greek fashion of the day. His pro-Parthian policies made his countryman come to regard him as a "Manchurian candidate" out to destroy Seleucid power, leading to his quick overthrow. Despite his troubled regime, his coin portraits from the second reign are some of the best in the entire Seleucid series, as evidenced by this splendid example from the Sidon mint.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Demetrius II, second reign (129-125 BC). AR tetradrachm (31mm, 16.73 gm, 12h). Sidon, dated SE 185 (128/7 BC). Diademed head of Demetrius II right, wearing long beard, bead and reel border / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ NIKATOΡOΣ, Zeus seated left on throne, holding Nike in right hand and scepter in left, ΣΙ, beneath the throne, date EΠΡ and MI monogram in exergue. SC 2187a. HGC 9, 1117e. DCA 225. Rare. An absolutely gorgeous specimen, well struck from dies of refined style. Incredible metal quality and toning! NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine StyleFrom The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.After spending nearly a decade in comfortable Parthian captivity, Demetrius II was released by his captors in a move to sow discord within the ranks of the invading Seleucid army of his brother and successor, Antiochus VII. The ploy worked beautifully and Antiochus VII was killed in the ensuing military debacle, leaving Demetrius II as sole ruler for the second time. His decade among the Parthians had changed him visibly -- he emerged with a long, flowing beard, much against Greek fashion of the day. His pro-Parthian policies made his countryman come to regard him as a "Manchurian candidate" out to destroy Seleucid power, leading to his quick overthrow. Despite his troubled regime, his coin portraits from the second reign are some of the best in the entire Seleucid series, as evidenced by this splendid example from the Sidon mint.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD