Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII (125-121 BC). AR tetradrachm (29mm, 16.59 gm, 12h). Akko-Ptolemais mint, undated. Jugate busts of Cleopatra, with stephane and veil, and of Antiochus, diademed, right; all within bead-and-reel border / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ - ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣ-ΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, Zeus, nude to waist, seated left on throne, holding scepter with his left hand, holding Nike on extended right hand. SC II, 2271.1. HGC 7, 1182g. SNG Spaer 2472. Lightly toned. Well-struck and pleasingly toned. NGC Choice XF★ 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection. Ex Heritage 3021 (New York, 6 January 2013), lot 21489. Cleopatra Thea, daughter of the Egyptian king Ptolemy VI, proved a remarkably proficient player of the ancient 'game of thrones.' Over a 30-year career, she was the daughter of a king, a queen herself, the wife of three kings (Balas, his replacement Demetrius II, and Antiochus VII), and the mother of two kings. As fearless and ruthless as she was ambitious, she did much to define politics in her age. When she issued coins bearing her portrait conjoined with a Seleucid king (initially her husband, Balas, and later her son, Antiochus VIII), her portrait is topmost, in the position of honor. Uniquely in the Seleucid series, coins in gold and silver were also struck depicting her portrait alone. In 125 BC, Cleopatra assumed supreme power in the Seleucid Empire, which required the murder of her eldest son, Seleucus V- reportedly she used him for archery practice! After a brief period as sole monarch, she was persuaded to share power with her youngest son, Antiochus VIII Grypus. This last son finally escaped the shadow of his domineering mother in 120 BC by forcing her to drink a poisoned cup she had intended for him.
Estimate: 1800-2400 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII (125-121 BC). AR tetradrachm (29mm, 16.59 gm, 12h). Akko-Ptolemais mint, undated. Jugate busts of Cleopatra, with stephane and veil, and of Antiochus, diademed, right; all within bead-and-reel border / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ - ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣ-ΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, Zeus, nude to waist, seated left on throne, holding scepter with his left hand, holding Nike on extended right hand. SC II, 2271.1. HGC 7, 1182g. SNG Spaer 2472. Lightly toned. Well-struck and pleasingly toned. NGC Choice XF★ 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection. Ex Heritage 3021 (New York, 6 January 2013), lot 21489. Cleopatra Thea, daughter of the Egyptian king Ptolemy VI, proved a remarkably proficient player of the ancient 'game of thrones.' Over a 30-year career, she was the daughter of a king, a queen herself, the wife of three kings (Balas, his replacement Demetrius II, and Antiochus VII), and the mother of two kings. As fearless and ruthless as she was ambitious, she did much to define politics in her age. When she issued coins bearing her portrait conjoined with a Seleucid king (initially her husband, Balas, and later her son, Antiochus VIII), her portrait is topmost, in the position of honor. Uniquely in the Seleucid series, coins in gold and silver were also struck depicting her portrait alone. In 125 BC, Cleopatra assumed supreme power in the Seleucid Empire, which required the murder of her eldest son, Seleucus V- reportedly she used him for archery practice! After a brief period as sole monarch, she was persuaded to share power with her youngest son, Antiochus VIII Grypus. This last son finally escaped the shadow of his domineering mother in 120 BC by forcing her to drink a poisoned cup she had intended for him.
Estimate: 1800-2400 USD