Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 135. Estimate CHF2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF3200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos). 121/0-97/6 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.54 g 12), Seleucia ad Calycadnum, 112-96. Diademed head of Antiochos VIII to right; fillet border. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ Athena standing left holding Nike in her right hand and resting her left on a shield; behind, spear; in outer left, flower; inner left, ΕΡ ΑΡ. SC 1279.4 (this coin illustrated). Beautifully toned, very well struck, and with one of the finest of all the portraits of Antiochos VIII. Good extremely fine.

Ex Freeman & Sear, MBS 10, 11 February 2004, 233.

Antiochos VIII had an extensive coinage, including issues struck when he was still under the regency of his terrible mother, Cleopatra Thea. His portraits are seldom particularly good, many devolving into caricature, but this piece bears a head of quite exceptional character: it shows a refined elegance that is simply outstanding in every way. It is certainly the finest depiction of this late Seleukid king in existence.