Lot 3301

Description

Syria, Kingdom of, Antiochus IV, (175-164 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.232 grams), Series II, Antioch mint, issued 169-167 B.C., obv. diademed head of Antiochus IV to right, filleted border, trace of stars at end of diadem, rev. Zeus seated left on throne, holding Nike, on right, **BASILEOS ANTIOXOU*, to left **QEOU [E]PIFANOUS*, plain exergue, (cf.S.6977, Newell SMA 56, BMC 11, SNG Israel I [Spaer] 973). Some orginal hoard patina in places, otherwise very fine, very rare variety.

This unusual variety with stars at the end of the diadem was Antiochus IV attempt to make his own divine nature evident to the people (p.23 SMA Newell). He seems to have identified himself with Zeus as the 'effulgence in human form of the Divine, a god manifest in the flesh' and titled himself on this new coinage **QEOS EPIFANOUS* ie. the God manifest.