| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 83 Price realized: 340 EUR (Approx. 367 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Seleukid Kingdom. Damascus. Demetrios II Nikator, 2nd reign 129-125 BC. Dated SE 184 =129/8 BC Tetradrachm Æ 28 mm, 15,60 g Diademed, bearded head of Demetrios II to right / [BA]ΣIΛE[ΩΣ] ΔHMHTPI[OY] ΘEOY NIKATOPOΣ, Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter with his left, to outer left, monogram, in exergue ςΠΡ (date). Very Fine SC 2181.2b. Demetrius II Nicator, reigning over the Seleucid Empire around 160 BC, faced a tumultuous rule marked by internal strife and external conflicts. His initial return to power in 147 BC after the death of his father, Demetrius I Soter, led to harsh governance and opposition in Antioch. The emergence of rival claimants, including Tryphon supporting Antiochus VI, weakened his control over southern Syria. A pivotal shift occurred when Demetrius II confronted the Parthian threat under Mithridates I. Despite early successes, he was deceived and captured, spending a decade in Parthian captivity. His release aimed to exploit him as a rival against Tryphon, yet his return sparked further conflicts, culminating in a decisive defeat against Ptolemy VIII and Alexander II Zabinas. The Battle of Damascus in 126 BC sealed Demetrius II's fate, facing defeat and subsequent death near Tyre at the hands of Cleopatra Thea. His reign, characterized by internal discord and external challenges, contributed to the overall decline of the Seleucid Empire during the Hellenistic era. Starting price: 150 EUR |  |
