Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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SELEUCID KINGDOM. Antiochus VIII Epiphanes (121/0-97/6 BC). AR tetradrachm (30mm, 16.52 gm, 11h). Antioch, ca. 112-111/0 BC. Diademed head of Antiochus VIII right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANYΣ, Zeus standing left, holding star and scepter; monograms to inner left; N to inner right. SC 2302.1d. HGC 9, 1197e. An absolutely perfect strike in choice metal, lightly toned. NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection.Antiochus VIII was the younger son of Demetrius II by his murderous Egyptian wife, Cleopatra Thea. After Demetrius perished through Cleopatra's intrigues, their elder son mounted the throne as Seleucus V but was almost immediately murdered by his mother. Cleopatra's attempt to claim power in her own name was rejected, and she was forced to associate Antiochus in her rule. After five years of joint rule, Cleopatra tried to rid herself of her coregent by offering him a cup of poisoned wine, but her suspicious son forced her to drink it herself. Described as a "self-indulgent fribble" by the historian Peter Green, Antiochus did little to arrest the decline in Seleucid fortunes during his reign. His coin portraits illustrate why he was popularly known as Grypus (Hook-nosed).
Estimate: 1200-1600 USD
SELEUCID KINGDOM. Antiochus VIII Epiphanes (121/0-97/6 BC). AR tetradrachm (30mm, 16.52 gm, 11h). Antioch, ca. 112-111/0 BC. Diademed head of Antiochus VIII right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANYΣ, Zeus standing left, holding star and scepter; monograms to inner left; N to inner right. SC 2302.1d. HGC 9, 1197e. An absolutely perfect strike in choice metal, lightly toned. NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 5/5.From The California Collection.Antiochus VIII was the younger son of Demetrius II by his murderous Egyptian wife, Cleopatra Thea. After Demetrius perished through Cleopatra's intrigues, their elder son mounted the throne as Seleucus V but was almost immediately murdered by his mother. Cleopatra's attempt to claim power in her own name was rejected, and she was forced to associate Antiochus in her rule. After five years of joint rule, Cleopatra tried to rid herself of her coregent by offering him a cup of poisoned wine, but her suspicious son forced her to drink it herself. Described as a "self-indulgent fribble" by the historian Peter Green, Antiochus did little to arrest the decline in Seleucid fortunes during his reign. His coin portraits illustrate why he was popularly known as Grypus (Hook-nosed).
Estimate: 1200-1600 USD