Lot 3255

Description

Syria, Kingdom of, Antiochus I, (280-261 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.000 grams), Magnesia ad Sipylum mint, issued towards 261 B.C., obv. diademed head of Antiochus I to right, dotted border, rev. Herakles nude seated left on lion skin covered over rock, holding a club in left hand, **[B]ASILEOS* on right, to left **ANTIOXOU*, below monograms **OS* and HP, (cf.S.1688 (Antiochus II, £1250), Newell WSM 1456 [Pl.LXI, 3, same obverse die], BMC 2 [p.8, Pl.iii, 2). Has been heavily cleaned, minor reverse porosity, otherwise, very fine/good fine and very rare.

Newell notes a total of 6 tetradrachms of all types in public and private collections of this type, struck from three obverse and five reverse dies.