| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 149 | Auction date: 2 December 2024 |
| Lot number: 35 Price realized: 2,750 CHF (Approx. 3,098 USD / 2,959 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Antiochos II Theos, 261 – 246 Tetradrachm, Kyme circa 261-246, AR 28 mm, 16.92 g. Diademed head of Antiochus I, rejuvenated features. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ – ANTIOXOY Heracles seated l. on lion skin draped over rocks, r. hand resting on grounded club; one handled cup in outer l. field, AP monogram below royal name, ΦTI monogram below royal title. In exergue, E MYΩ monogram. WSM 1522. SC 505.2a. Rare. Lovely iridescent tone, minor brushing marks in field, otherwise good very fine / about extremely fine Ex M&M 76, 1991, 829 and Heritage 232317, 2023, 64100 sales. When Antiochus I died in 261 BC, and he was succeeded by his son Antiochus II history repeated itself. Believing the power of Antiochus II to be weak in the West-he had been coruler with his father with responsibility for the Upper Satrapies since 266 BC-Ptolemy II Philadelphus embarked upon the Second Syrian War (261-253 BC) in the hope of expanding the Ptolemaic empire at the new king's expense. This turned out to be a serious miscalculation. Ptolemy II initially threatened Antioch and captured parts of coastal Cilicia, but Antiochus II soon turned the war around, detaching important cities in coastal Asia Minor from Ptolemaic control, including Miletus , Ephesus, and Samos. At Miletus he was even haled as Theos ("God") for his removal of a local tyrant who had ruled the city with Ptolemaic support. In addition to these successes in western Asia Minor, over the course of the war Antiochus II also strengthened his control of Pamphylia and Cilicia, expanded his authority into Troas. A campaign into Thrace that probably took place after the conclusion of the Second Syrian War also gained the city of Lysimachia and rooted out Ptolemaic influence in the region. Unfortunately, the western expansion of Antiochus II did not come without cost. In northern Asia Minor Cappadocia was detached from the Seleucid kingdom by its own native kings, although these maintained a marriage alliance with Antiochus II. More seriously, Antiochus' western focus allowed the important eastern satrapies of Parthyene and Bactria to begin slipping from Seleucid control. Most fatal, however, was the peace settlement that ended the Second Syrian War. Under the terms of the treaty between Antiochus II and Ptolemy II, the former was to repudiate his wife Laodice and marry instead Ptolemy's daughter Berenice, who brought with her a great dowry. The offspring of Antiochus II and Berenice would thenceforth be considered the legitimate scions of the Seleucid dynasty. Laodice thenceforth took up residence at Ephesus while Berenice lived at Antioch, where she gave birth to a son. In 246 BC, Antiochus II was in Ephesus, possibly having abandoned his Ptolemaic bride and seeking a reconciliation with Laodice when he suddenly died. It was widely suspected that he had been the victim of poison administered by his first wife, who immediately took action to destroy Berenice and her child once Antiochus II was no more. Graded XF strike 5/5, surface 2/5 – Fine style, brushed, NGC certification number 6607613-011 Estimate: 2000 CHF |  |
