The Insurrection of Bassus

364, Lot: 304. Estimate $500. Sold for $475. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 15.77 g, 12h). In the name and types of the Seleucid king Philip I Philadelphus. Dated year 4 of the Caesarean Era (46/5 BC). Diademed head right / Zeus Nicephorus seated left; monogram to inner left and below throne, Δ (date) and thunderbolt in exergue; all within wreath. McAlee 5b; Prieur 5; RPC I 4128; SC 2491.2; HGC 9, 1360. EF, toned, green deposits on reverse. Rare.

From the RBW Collection. Ex Heritage Long Beach Signature Sale 3020 (6 Sept 2012), lot 25073 (hammer of $1400).

Struck during the time of Q. Caecilius Bassus’ governorship. Bassus, a supporter of Pompey, had led an insurrection against Sextus Pompey, cousin of Julius Caesar and governor of Syria since 48 BC. For two years he fought off attacks from enemy forces, even calling on the Parthians for assistance (Dio 27.5), before finally falling to Cassius, one of the assassins of Caesar.