Bearded Portrait of Demetrios I

Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 468. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Demetrios I Soter. 162-150 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.63 g, 1h). Antioch mint. Struck circa 162-155/4 BC. Diademed head right, with slight beard, within wreath / Tyche, fully clothed, seated left, holding baton and cornucopia; winged Tritoness supporting throne, monogram to outer left. SNG Spaer 1257; SMA 81. Good VF. Very rare with bearded portrait.

Based on the forthcoming second part of the die study of Antioch, Demetrius’ earliest portraits were beardless, followed by a short series with bearded portraits. The beard was subsequently erased from its respective dies, which were then reused.