Lot 3657

Description

Cappadocian Kingdom, in the name of Antiochos VII, (138-129 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.42 g), previously attributed to Antioch mint, issued c.130-80 B.C., obv. diademed head of Antiochos VII to right, fillet border, rev. Athena standing to left, holding Nike bearing a wreath in right hand, left hand on grounded shield with Medusa head and holding spear, **BASILEWS ANTIOCOU*, and to left **EUER GETOU, to left monograms of Antioch on the Orontes **DI* over **L*, (S.7091, cf.SNG Spaer 1852, SC 2061.2, HGC 9, 1067d). Toned, good very fine.

Ex J.M. Day Collection and previously from Forum Ancient Coins with their ticket.
This issue belongs to a series of issues that have been die and control-mark linked to the coinage of the Cappadocian kings. Previously believed to be late issues from Antioch for Antiochos VII, tetradrachms have appeared that are obverse die linked to an issue of tetradrachms bearing the name and portrait of Ariarathes VII. This discovery conclusively showed that this coinage in the name of Antiochos VII was actually a posthumous issue struck under the Cappadocian king. Further analysis of other issues in the name of Antiochos VII, of similar Antioch mint style, have shown that they are control-mark linked to issues of Ariarathes VII and other Cappadocian kings. Thus, these posthumous Antiochos VII issues constitute the vast majority of tetradrachms issued by the Cappadocian Kingdom. While the attribution of these coins to Cappadocia is now settled, their purpose, time of introduction, and the reason they employ the types of Antiochos VII are not certain. (For a full treatment of these issues, see Lorber & Houghton, esp. pp. 58-60, and E. Krengel and C.C. Lorber, "Early Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Antiochus VII," NC 2009, esp. pp. 68-71.).