Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 868. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Seleukos I Nikator. 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.06 g, 5h). Uncertain mint 6A (in Babylonia). Struck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon, circa 311-305 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; anchor in left field, K below throne. SC 67.5c var. (monogram); Price 3439 var. (same); Meydancikkale 2080(?). Good VF.

The parallel legs of Zeus, slightly curving legend, and overall style strongly suggest the attribution of this issue to uncertain mint 6A. The primary control monogram is missing from this coin’s reverse die, possibly by an engraver’s mistake. It is more likely that this coin represents a heretofore unknown issue that does not have the common control mark, but retains a secondary mark. Such an issue would seem to fall naturally between SC 67.5 and SC 67.6, where the latter is a known issue also without the familiar monogram, but with an entirely new set of controls in addition to the anchor. An example of the present coin may actually be Meydancikkale 2080. Davesne and Le Rider cataloged that coin with the controls of SC 67.5d, but questioned the presence of the K below the throne. An examination of the coin’s photo, however, reveals the presence of the K, but no indication of the monogram.