Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Demetrius II Nicator, second reign (129-125 BC). AR tetradrachm (29mm, 16.76 gm, 12h). Uncertain mint, dated SY 186 (127/6 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 and scepter, N/Λ, beneath the throne, date ςΠΡ in exergue. HgC 116c. SC 2175. Rare. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection. After spending nearly a decade in Parthian captivity, Demetrius II was released 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 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 tetradrachm.
Estimate: 1200-1600 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Demetrius II Nicator, second reign (129-125 BC). AR tetradrachm (29mm, 16.76 gm, 12h). Uncertain mint, dated SY 186 (127/6 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 and scepter, N/Λ, beneath the throne, date ςΠΡ in exergue. HgC 116c. SC 2175. Rare. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection. After spending nearly a decade in Parthian captivity, Demetrius II was released 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 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 tetradrachm.
Estimate: 1200-1600 USD