| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 193 | Silver | Auction date: 28 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 82 Price realized: 120 EUR (Approx. 130 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. Alexander II Zabinas 128-122 BC. Hemidrachm AR 12 mm, 2,03 g Diademed head to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔ[ΡΟΥ], Nike standing to left, holding wreath and palm branch; monogram in inner left field. Very Fine SC 2224; HGC 9, 1157. Alexander II Zabinas, a contender for the Seleucid throne in the 120s BC, emerged as a key figure in a complex web of political maneuvers. Initially, he gained recognition as the Seleucid ruler through support from the Egyptian King Ptolemy VIII, who was engaged in a civil war against Cleopatra II. Presented as the adopted son of Antiochus VII or the offspring of Alexander I Balas, Alexander II Zabinas secured power in Antioch, Apamea, and other Syrian cities with Egyptian backing. In 125 BC, Alexander achieved a significant victory against Demetrius II near Damascus, leading to Demetrius II's subsequent demise. However, his fortunes took a turn when Ptolemy reconciled with Cleopatra, withdrawing support. Faced with financial challenges, Alexander attempted to fund his troops using resources from the Zeus Temple treasury in Antioch, resulting in his expulsion from the city. The shift in support dynamics left Alexander vulnerable, and in 123 BC, he was captured and likely executed by Antiochus VIII Grypos, the son and successor of Demetrius. Alexander II Zabinas' rise and fall epitomize the intricate power struggles and alliances characteristic of the Hellenistic period in the Seleucid Empire. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
