Seleukid Coins

Antiochos XI

Bronze coin  •  References

Identification Number A11-AE-01
Mint:	Antioch on the Orontes1
Period:	c. 94/3 BC
Denomination:	AE Double Unit
Weight:	8.21 g
Diameter:	19 - 20 mm
Obverse:	Diademed, bearded head of Antiochos XI right; dotted border
Reverse:	‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ’ right, ‘ΕΠΙΦΑ[ΝΟΥΣ] ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛ[ΦΟΥ]’ left (“of King Antiochos, the Illustrious, Brother-Loving”); Athena Nikephoros (“carrying victory”) standing and facing left, holding Nike in right hand who faces left, and resting left hand on grounded shield, spear propped against her left arm; control marks, if any, unrecognizable or off flan2
Die Position:	0º
References:	Houghton, Lorber and Hoover, SC II, 2442; BMC 4, p. 99, No. 15 (Plate XXVI, 8); Hunterian Coll. III, p. 111, Nos. 1-3; Jean ELSEN & ses Fils s.a., Auction 93 (September 15, 2007), Lot 385; Jay Guberman’s collection; Tom Kirby’s collection
Note:	The bronze coinage of Antiochos XI comprises only two different types of the same denomination (Houghton, Lorber and Hoover, SC II, 2442 and 2443). The only difference between them is that the king is shown bearded on SC II, 2442, and clean shaven on SC II, 2443. According to Houghton, Lorber and Hoover (ibid, p. 579), the sideburn probably represents a campaign beard, grown as the outward mark of a vow to avenge the dethroning and death of Seleukos VI, whereas the clean-shaven likeness is presumed to be the iconographic representation of a king at ease in his rightful domain, his wov of vengeance discharged.

¹ Antioch was founded about 300 BC by Seleukos I Nikator, the founder of the Seleukid Dynasty, and it became the principal capital of the Seleukid Empire. The city was named after a family name Antiochos, passed from his father to his son (Antiochos I Soter). There were a number of other cities by the same name and this Antioch was known as Antioch on the Orontes (i.e. the Orontes River, along which it was located).

² This type has a combination of letters Φ and Τ above bunch of grapes in outer left field.

References:

Gardner, Percy: Catalogue of the Greek coins in the British Museum, Volume 4: The Seleucid Kings of Syria. London, 1878 (reprint, Arnaldo Forni, Bologna, 1963). (abbr. BMC 4)

Houghton, Arthur; Lorber, Catharine; Hoover, Oliver: Seleucid Coins, A Comprehensive Catalogue. Part II, Volumes 1 and 2. The American Numismatic Society, New York, in association with Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., Lancaster/London, 2008. (abbr. SC II)

MacDonald, George: Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection, University of Glasgow. Volume 3. Further Asia, Northern Africa, Western Europe. Elibron Classics, Adamant Media Corporation, 2003. Replica edition of the edition published by James Maclehose and Sons, Glasgow, 1905. (abbr. Hunterian Coll. III)