SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios II Nikator. First reign, 146-138 BC. AR Drachm (17.5mm, 4.72 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in Syria or Phoenicia. Dated SE 174 (139/8 BC).

Electronic Auction 469
Lot: 157.

Greek, Silver

Estimate: $ 300

Go to Live

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios II Nikator. First reign, 146-138 BC. AR Drachm (17.5mm, 4.72 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in Syria or Phoenicia. Dated SE 174 (139/8 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY ΘEOY ΠIΛAΔEΛΠOY NIKATOPOΣ, cornucopia; ΔH monogram and ΔOP (date) below. SC 1936 var. (no ΘEOY); SNG Spaer 1746 var. (same); HGC 9, 978 var. (same); CNG E-365, lot 198 (same obv. die; hammer $1600). Lightly toned, struck with worn obverse die. VF. Extremely rare.

This drachm is part of a small series from a yet unidentified mint in Syria or Phoenicia. The coins are related by fabric and the ΔH monogram and come dated for years 171, 173, and 174. Houghton and Lorber, in their introduction for this series, state that "in the final year of its operation, the ΔH mint dropped the epithet Theos (God) from the legend." This coin though has the epithet Theos and is unpublished as such.

Closing Date and Time: 3 June 2020 at 10:52:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.