SC Plate Coin

196, Lot: 54. Estimate $300. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Seleukos II Kallinikos. 246-226 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.08 g, 12h). Uncertain mint 52 (near Seleukeia on the Tigris). Struck circa 234-226 BC(?). Diademed head right / Apollo Delphios standing left, leaning on tripod to right, holding arrow; monograms to outer left and right. SC Ad183.2 (this coin illustrated); Houghton II 202 (same dies). VF. Very rare.

Ex 2002 "Seleucus III" Hoard, Lot D (SC II, vol. II, p. 146).

Uncertain mint 52 began operation during the reign of Seleukos II, and is associated with Seleukeia on the Tigris based on an obverse die link during the reign of Antiochos III. The circumstances of the mint's establishment is unknown, but SC posits that it may be connected to his eastern campaign in the later 230s BC. On a side note, the text for Houghton II 202 erroneously notes that that coin is the SC plate coin, but this was changed after the Houghton II text went to press. The present coin is the actual plate coin in the SC addenda.