Seleukid Coins

Seleukos VI

Silver coin  •  References

Identification Number SE6-AR-01
Mint:	Antioch on the Orontes1
Period:	c. 95 - c. 94 BC
Denomination:	AR Tetradrachm
Weight:	16.11 g
Diameter:	27 - 28 mm
Obverse:	Diademed head of Seleukos VI right; fillet border
Reverse:	‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ’ right, ‘[Ε]ΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ] [ΝΙΚΑΤΟΡΟΣ]’ left (“of King Seleukos the Illustrious Victor”); Zeus Nikephoros (“carrying victory”) seated on throne left, holding Nike in right hand and scepter in left hand; ‘ΔΙ’ monogram under throne; all within partially visible laurel wreath
Die Position:	0º
References:	Houghton, CSE, 361 (same obverse die) and 362 var. (same obverse die, ‘Α’ under throne); Newell, SMA, 421; SNG Spaer, 2768 - 2769 var. (different control marks under throne)

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).

References:

Houghton, Arthur: Coins of the Seleucid Empire from the Collection of Arthur Houghton. The American Numismatic Society, New York, 1983. (abbr. CSE)

Houghton, Arthur; Spaer, Arnold (with the assistance of Catharine Lorber): Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Israel I. The Arnold Spaer Collection of Seleucid Coins. Italo Vecchi Ltd., London, 1998. (abbr. SNG Spaer)

Newell, Edward T.: The Seleucid Mint of Antioch. Chicago, 1978 (Obol International reprint of the 1918 original). (abbr. SMA)