Two Rare Issues Funding the Asia Minor Campaign of Seleukos III

CNG 109, Lot: 255. Estimate $3000. Sold for $7000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos III Soter (Keraunos). 225/4-222 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32.5mm, 16.27 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Balaneia mint. Dated CY 35 (of Arados, 225/4 BC). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, BA (civic) monogram above palm tree; 35 (date in Aramaic) and ŠT (in Aramaic) in exergue. Unpublished. VF, toned, double struck on reverse. Unique, the first known tetradrachm from this city.

From the MNL Collection, purchased from Frank Kovacs, November 2013.

This coin was part of a joint issue of the cities of the Aradian Peraia (Arados, Balaneia, Karne, Gabala, Marathos, and Simyra), that may have been used to help finance Seleukos’ campaign in Asia Minor to recover the Seleukid territories that were lost to Attalos I during the reign of Seleukos II.