THE COLLECTION
RESOURCES
SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA
SELEUKOS I Nikator
As Satrap, 311-305 BC

                AR Drachm (4.26 g, 16mm, 2). Struck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon.
      Mint: Babylon II, "Native/Satrapal" Workshop.
      Struck: Circa 311-308/5 BC.
      Obv: [no legend]
                Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
      Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ [Α]ΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ
                Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, monogram above
                anchor; ΠΟ monogram below throne.
      Ref: SC Ad66 (this coin referenced); cf. Price 3341; ESM -;
                SNG Spaer -; Babelon -; BMC -; Houghton -.

Notes: This drachm belongs in a series dated to the second satrapy of Seleukos in Babylon, after his return to the city in 311 BC. The Alexandrine series is control-linked to the native Babylonian Ba'al/lion coinage which had comprised the local issues since the satrapy of Mazaios. By virtue of the control links, both the local coinage and the "anchor" Alexander coins were issued at a single workshop. Another, larger, Alexandrine coinage was also issued at Babylon going back to the time of Alexander's conquest of the city, and was issued concurrent with the Ba'al/lion coinage since that time. Thus, two workshops or mints were operating at Babylon, the 'imperial' mint producing the massive Alexander issues, and the second issuing the Ba'al/lion coinage. Hoard studies have led to a conclusion that the Ba'al/lion coinage was probably continued for the purpose of a local coinage under the Babylonian satrap's control, while the Alexandrine issues were likely used for paying mercenaries and other 'international' entities and was (theoretically) under the direct control of the Macdonian king (see SC, pp. 3 and 43-44). The Alexandrine types at the second mint can be dated to shortly after the return of Seleukos to Babylon, and it is reasonable to assume it was intended to slowly replace the Ba'al/lion coinage as the local currency. Supporting this is the fact that the Ba'al/lion coinage ended in around 305 BC when Seleukos assumed the royal title. The Alexandrine coinage of this series was the first to carry Seleukos' personal badge, the anchor, and thus are the first overt references to him on the coinage (see SC, pg. 6).

Alexandrine issues of the second mint are comprised of groups of tetradrachms and drachms which share control markings. The markings consist of a primary control under the throne, and a secondary control in the left field. The controls on this particular coin are unknown on the published drachms, but are very similar to a variety among the tetradrachms (SC 94.2b), with the variation being an ormicron present in the pi control below the throne (a similar mark is visible on the plate coin for SC 94.3-but is apparently unnoticed in the text).


                AR Drachm (4.22 g, 16mm, 4). Struck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon.
      Mint: Susa.
      Struck: Circa 311-305 BC.
      Obv: [no legend]
                Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
      Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ
                Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field,wreath and Boeotian
                shield above horned horse head left; below throne, BE above
                strut, TI below strut.
      Ref: SC 166.1; ESMS p. 35, S-6; ESM 288 and pl. XXII, 6 (same
                dies); Price 3867; SNG Spaer -; Babelon -; BMC -; Houghton -.
      Pedig: 2005 Commerce Hoard.

Notes: This coin is from one of the first issues of Seleukid coinage at Susa. While the tetradrachms of this mint under Seleukos are fairly common, the drachms are very rare. This issue was the first Seleukid issue to feature the horned horse's head which became a fairly common symbol in Seleukos' reign. While the exact identification of the steed is not certain the two prevailing theories is that it is either Alexander's famed mount Bucephalos, or the horse that carried Seleukos to safety when he fled Babylon in 315. Seleukos revered the horse, and had it deified and erected a monument to it at Antioch. The meaning of the wreath and Boeotian shield symbols are uncertain, but may refer to a victory in which the actions of Seleukid soldiers from Boeotia were prevalent.

As Satrap or King, 311-281 BC

                AR Drachm (4.21 g, 15mm, 5). Struck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon.
      Mint: Ekbatana.
      Struck: Circa 311-295 BC.
      Obv: [no legend]
                Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
      Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔ[ΡΟΥ]
                Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; monogram and anchor in
                left field, monogram below throne.
      Ref: SC 208.4; ESM 466; Price 3920; SNG Spaer -; Babelon -;
                BMC -; Houghton -.

Notes: This drachm belongs to the early issues of Ekbatana, before the addition of the royal titles to Seleukos' coins there in 295 BC. With such a late date for this change, it is uncertain which part of these issues belongs to his 'satrapal' period before he took the title in 305 BC.

As King, 305-281 BC

                AR Drachm (4.25 g, 16mm, 1).
      Mint: Seleukeia in Pieria mint.
      Struck: Circa 300-281 BC.
      Obv: [no legend]
                Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
      Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ
                Zeus Nikephoros seated left; in left field, monogram in circle;
                KP below throne.
      Ref: SC 31; Le Rider, Antioche 28-9 (A1/P1); WSM 891 (same dies);
                SNG Spaer -; Babelon -; BMC -; Houghton -.
      Pedig: 2005 Commerce Hoard.

Notes: Seleukeia in Pieria was one of the four cities Seleukos founded near the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Located near the mouth of the Orontes River, Seleukeia served as the seaport of the Seleukid capital Antioch on the Orontes (another of the four cities). The population of the city were the previous inhabitants of the city of Antigoneia. Antigoneia was a major foundation of Seleukos' previous rival, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, and was therefore razed by Seleukos, and its inhabitants relocated to the new city of Seleukeia. Seleukeia was Seleukos' favorite cities, and was where he was buried following his death in 281 BC. The mint of Seleukeia primarily produced tetradrachms, though very rare drachms are known. The present coin is one of only 6 recorded: Le Rider recorded 2 examples (1 in Berlin, 1 in the Meydancikkale hoard), and another 4 examples were found in the 2005 Commerce Hoard.