| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 84 Price realized: 140 EUR (Approx. 151 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. Antioch on the Orontes. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) 121-97 BC. Tetradrachm AR 29 mm, 16,08 g Diademed head of Antiochos VIII to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - EΠIΦANOYΣ Zeus Ouranios standing front, head to left, holding star in his right hand and long scepter in his left; above, crescent; to left, IE above A; all within laurel wreath. Very Fine SC 2298.2e. Antiochus VIII Grypus, a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, governed from 121 to 97 BC. Born to Demetrius II and Cleopatra Thea, he initially shared rule with his mother. However, apprehensive of her influence, Grypus had Cleopatra Thea poisoned in 121 BC. His reign was marked by political instability, including a civil war against his half-brother Antiochus IX. Married to Ptolemaic princess Tryphaena, Grypus faced familial strife. Tryphaena orchestrated the murder of Antiochus IX's wife, Cleopatra IV, leading to revenge with Tryphaena's own death. Grypus, in 102 BC, married Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of his aunt Cleopatra III of Egypt. Grypus' rise to power involved defeating Alexander II Zabinas in 123 BC. In 121 BC, he eliminated his influential mother, with conflicting accounts of her attempted poisoning. Known for his interest in toxicology, Grypus cultivated an image of opulence despite political challenges. His reign, though politically flawed, portrayed an idealized Hellenistic concept of a good life. The narrative includes anecdotes of Grypus' extravagant parties, where guests received food and even a camel as a gift. However, the empire faced financial strain due to such displays. In 116 BC, a civil war erupted with Antiochus IX's return, leading to a tumultuous period. Grypus met his demise in 96 BC when his half-brother killed him, marking the end of his reign. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
