SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos III 223-187 BC. AV Oktadrachm (29 mm; 34.14 g). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, struck circa 197-192 BC. Obverse: Diademed head right of Antiochos right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTI-OXOY, Apollo Delphios seated left on omphalos, testing arrow with his right hand and resting left hand on bow set on ground; monograms in outer left and right fields. Minor edge flaw/damage and a few light marks on obverse. Weakly struck on reverse. Bold portrait struck in high relief and some remaining luster in fields. Extremely rare.
Referanse:
SC 1157 (this coin referenced and illustrated)
Referanse 2:
HGC 9, 440d corr. (SC reference)
Referanse 3:
CSE 972 (this coin)
Proveniens:
Ex. Bank Leu auction 20, 25.4.1978, lot 161; From the collection of Arthur Houghton; Ex. Numismatic Fine Arts auction XVIII, 31.3.1987, lot 323; Ex. Christie's New York 20.9.1994, lot 162; From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams; Ex. Classical Numismatic Group Triton XIX, 5.1.2016, lot 2070
Info:
Antiochos III was king of the Seleukid empire between 223 and 187 BC. He was the seventh Seleukid king and is remembered as one of the great rulers of the Seleukid dynasty. During his reign he restored much of the empire to its former glory, almost resembling the vast empire of Alexander III (the great). The empire spanned from Europe to modern day Afghanistan. However, his military success would soon come to an end. In 192 BC he invaded Greece and came into conflict the Roman Republic. The Romans where a formidable fighting force and Antiochos suffered several devastating defeats. In 188 BC he was forced to sign an unfavorable treaty at Apamea and had to give up his territories north of the Taurus mountains and committed to pay an enormous indemnity. Antiochos was desperately searching for money to appease Rome and in 187 BC he was killed by a furious mob in Elymais where he tried to raid a temple for its treasures. The production of a large gold issue such as the octadrachm was highly unusual in the Greek world. The only exception was the Ptolemies of Egypt who issued large gold coins on a regular scale due to their unique possession of large gold deposits. In the rest of the Greek realm, the gold stater was usually the largest gold denomination in the monetary systems. The production of large gold coins is often related to ceremonial issues or produced in times of crisis with urgent need of money for large transactions. The octadrachms of Antiochos III seem to be no exception. This coin is not struck from specially prepared dies that should be excepted for a ceremonial issue. In fact, the coin is struck from the same dies as a common silver tetradrachm. According to Houghton and Lorber in Seleucid Coins, part 1, the coin is attributed to an uncertain mint in Mesopotamia and was minted between 197-192 BC (SC 1132.3b). At this time the province of Mesopotamia had been under Seleukid control for some time and Antiochos was campaigning against the Ptolemies in Asia Minor and Thrace. We do not know the purpose of the mintage of these coins which today are excessively rare. They may have been used as special bonuses to high military officials after successful campaigns.
