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CNG Feature Auction 127

Lot nuber 253

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.09 g, 6h). Sardes mint. Struck circa 276-274/1 BC. Good VF.


CNG Feature Auction 127
Lot: 253.

Closing Date: Sep 18 2024 11:00 ET

Greek, Silver

Estimate: $ 3 000

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SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.09 g, 6h). Sardes mint. Struck circa 276-274/1 BC. Diademed and horned head of Seleukos I right / Apollo, nude, holding bow, seated left on omphalos; monograms to inner left and in exergue. SC 323.2c; WSM 1367α–γ (same obv. die); HGC 9, 130; Triton XXIV, lot 752 (same obv. die; hammer $8500). Lightly toned, traces of horn silver on obverse, light cleaning marks and small scuff on reverse, a couple of minor edge marks. Good VF. An excellent portrait of Seleukos.

Shortly after his death in 281 BC, Seleukos I Nikator, the founder of the Seleukid dynasty, was deified by his son and heir, Antiochos I. Almost immediately, Antiochos struck coins at a mint in Baktria bearing the portrait of his deceased father, to whose portrait was added a bull’s horn. This feature recalled a famous incident while Nikator served as a companion of Alexander the Great. In this event, Nikator barehandedly subdued a bull that had been brought for sacrifice, after it had broke loose from its restraints. This horn became a standard feature of all the posthumous portraits of Seleukos I. In 276 BC, Antiochos moved his residence from Baktria to Sardes, in order to deal with new threats arising in the West. Newell originally thought that the Seleukos portrait issues at Sardes began early in the reign of Antiochos I, contemporary with the Baktrian issues. However, later studies have suggested that the Alexander type tetradrachms in the name of Antiochos began first, and the Seleukos portraits followed, likely beginning once Antiochos took residence there.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 127 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 17-18 September 2024. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 17 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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