Object Description
Laodicea ad Mare, Ca. 261-246 BC
Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochos II Ar. tetradrachm, Laodicea ad Mare. Beardless head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ; Zeus seated on high-backed throne left, holding eagle on outstretched right hand and sceptre in left. Dolphin in left field, AXP monogram below; AB monogram below throne. SC 576.6. Accompanied by original Baldwin’s label.
Antiochus II was the younger son of Antiochus I and Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes, who ascended to the throne in place of his older brother Seleucus.
This coin demonstrates the persistence of “Alexander” coinage in the Hellenistic world. Upon the conqueror’s death, there were huge numbers of “Alexander” tetradrachms circulating across the Hellenistic world, with over 12 million alone issued by his mints in Macedonia. As the Seleucids operated an open monetary system that allowed circulation of many attic-weight coinages in their territories, it was therefore practical to coin in the widely accepted style.
For additional information see:
Le Rider, G., 2007. Alexander the Great: Coinage, Finances, and Policy. Translated by W. E Higgins. Philadelphia.
Size: D: 31mm ; 15.88g