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SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos). 121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.10 g, 12h). Uncertain mint. Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; two monograms to outer left; all within wreath. Unpublished. Slight roughness, a few light scratches. VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives.
The monograms on this issue are generally unused on the known issues of Antiochos VIII, save for the lower monogram, which appears on one issue from Selekeia on the Kalykadnos. This issue, however, clearly is not from that mint, as it lacks the standard palm frond to the outer left on the reverse, and also has the reverse within a wreath, which is never used at Seleukeia. Most striking about this issue is the appearance of the portrait, which is of a style that is quite different from published specimens of Antiochos VIII. In fact, the style has a Ptolemaic character, which suggests it may have been engraved by a celator who was accustomed to producing dies for the Ptolemies. As Epihanes had close ties to the Ptolemaic kingdom, it would not be surprising to find an engraver who worked for both dynasties. It also suggests that the mint of this issue may be geographically closer to Egypt, perhaps in Phoenicia.
Closing Date and Time: 6 April 2022 at 11:00:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.
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