109, Lot: 47. Estimate $150. Sold for $235. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Seleukos I Nikator. 312-281 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.08 gm, 3h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Struck circa 296/5-281 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion's skin headdress / Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; D and anchor in left field, N below throne. SC 139b (this coin); ESM 42 var. (position of letters); SNG Spaer -; Houghton -. VF. Rare.

Ex Brian Kritt Collection.

After Seleukos' eastern campaign concluded "successfully" circa 296/5 BC, the Seleukid coinage went through a major transformation in its iconography, with many new types reflecting the recent campaign. The primary new type was the Zeus/Athena in quadriga type, first issued at Seleukeia and Susa, but later issued by most of the mints. Upon the introduction of these new types, the issuance of coinage of the traditional Alexandrine types was reduced by a considerable amount. This particular coin is from one of the rare Alexandrine issues at Seleukeia during this later period, which are linked to the new coinage by shared control markings. It is only one of two known with the royal title, and the sole example with the control marks placed in these positions.