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| Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 21 | Auction date: 30 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 224 Price realized: 4,600 CHF (Approx. 5,861 USD / 5,032 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos XI & Philip I, circa 95/4-94/3 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 15.84 g, 12 h), uncertain mint in Cilicia, likely Tarsos, circa 94-94/3. Diademed and jugate heads of Antiochos XI, in foreground and with long sideburn, and Philip I, in the back, to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟXΟΥ - ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; to outer left, C / Φ / Ⲱ / Λ; all within laurel wreath. A. Houghton: The double portrait coins of Antiochus XI and Philip I, in: SNR 66 (1987), 1 var. (A1/-, top left control rendered as Є). Leu Numismatik 17 (2025), 250 (same dies). SC 2435.1 var. (top left control rendered as Є). An extremely rare variety of a very rare type. An attractive example of this exceptional dynastic issue, very well struck and centered on a full flan. Slightly rough and with tiny marks and flan faults, otherwise, very fine. This exceptionally rare tetradrachm conveys an idea almost unheard of in the late Seleukid period: dynastic unity. It depicts the twin brothers Antiochos XI and Philip I, with Antiochos appearing in the foreground and his name listed first on the reverse - suggesting he was the elder of the two. Yet, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that this coin, too, reflects a ruling family already ravaged by dynastic strife and trapped in perpetual civil war. The coin was struck during the twins' campaign against the city of Mopsos, where their elder brother, Seleukos VI, had met a gruesome end - burned alive by an enraged mob, either in the gymnasium or the local palace. At this time, multiple claimants vied for control of the fragmented Seleucid realm. From Cilicia, Seleukos VI had overthrown his uncle, Antiochos IX, in Antioch, only to be driven out shortly thereafter by the latter's son, Antiochos X - an event that likely sealed Seleukos' tragic fate in Mopsos. Around the same time, Seleukos' brother, Demetrios III, established his own rule in Damascus. Having avenged their brother's death by razing Mopsos to the ground, the twins, Antiochos XI and Philip I, turned their sights on their cousin, Antiochos X, in Antioch. Though Antiochos XI briefly seized the city, he was soon expelled by his namesake and drowned in the Orontes River. His brothers, Demetrios III and Philip I, would cling to power for several more years amidst the bitter civil wars, only to meet their own downfalls: in 88/7 BC, Demetrios was defeated by Philip himself with the aid of Arab and Parthian forces and was taken prisoner by the Parthians. The surviving twin, Philip I, was eventually driven out of Antioch in 83 BC by the Armenian king Tigranes II the Great and died shortly thereafter in Cilicia. Our coin thus stands as a poignant symbol of the late Seleukid civil wars. The accession of Antiochos IV Epiphanes in 175 BC had given rise to two rival dynastic lines that would battle for a century, ultimately condemning what was once the largest and most powerful of the Hellenistic kingdoms to ruin. Here, Antiochos XI and Philip I present themselves as the united avengers of their fallen brother - yet, in the end, even the surviving twin would not hesitate to wage war against his own sibling, Demetrios III. Nevertheless, as a depiction of a royal twin pair, this coin is utterly unique in the entire ancient world and of the highest historical and iconographic significance - especially, perhaps, to those who, like this cataloguer, share the special bond of being a twin. This lot cannot be shipped to a US address. Estimate: 3500 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 40 | Auction date: 14 March 2026 |
| Lot number: 749 Price realized: 2,600 CHF (Approx. 3,292 USD / 2,876 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos XI & Philip I, circa 95/4-94/3 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 15.92 g, 1 h), uncertain mint in Cilicia, likely Tarsos, circa 94-94/3. Diademed and jugate heads of Antiochos XI, in foreground, and Philip I, in the back, to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟXΟΥ - ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; below throne, Φ; to outer left, C / Φ / Ⲱ / A; all within laurel wreath. A. A. Houghton: The struggle for the Seleucid succession, 94-92 BC, in: SNR 77 (1998), p. 65 and pl. 12, 1 (same dies). SC 2438. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Minor marks and the obverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, very fine. This exceptionally rare tetradrachm conveys an idea almost unheard of in the late Seleukid period: dynastic unity. It depicts the twin brothers Antiochos XI and Philip I, with Antiochos appearing in the foreground and his name listed first on the reverse - suggesting he was the elder of the two. Yet, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that this coin, too, reflects a ruling family already ravaged by dynastic strife and trapped in perpetual civil war. The coin was struck during the twins' campaign against the city of Mopsos, where their elder brother, Seleukos VI, had met a gruesome end - burned alive by an enraged mob, either in the gymnasium or the local palace. At this time, multiple claimants vied for control of the fragmented Seleucid realm. From Cilicia, Seleukos VI had overthrown his uncle, Antiochos IX, in Antioch, only to be driven out shortly thereafter by the latter's son, Antiochos X - an event that likely sealed Seleukos' tragic fate in Mopsos. Around the same time, Seleukos' brother, Demetrios III, established his own rule in Damascus. Having avenged their brother's death by razing Mopsos to the ground, the twins, Antiochos XI and Philip I, turned their sights on their cousin, Antiochos X, in Antioch. Though Antiochos XI briefly seized the city, he was soon expelled by his namesake and drowned in the Orontes River. His brothers, Demetrios III and Philip I, would cling to power for several more years amidst the bitter civil wars, only to meet their own downfalls: in 88/7 BC, Demetrios was defeated by Philip himself with the aid of Arab and Parthian forces and was taken prisoner by the Parthians. The surviving twin, Philip I, was eventually driven out of Antioch in 83 BC by the Armenian king Tigranes II the Great and died shortly thereafter in Cilicia. Our coin thus stands as a poignant symbol of the late Seleukid civil wars. The accession of Antiochos IV Epiphanes in 175 BC had given rise to two rival dynastic lines that would battle for a century, ultimately condemning what was once the largest and most powerful of the Hellenistic kingdoms to ruin. Here, Antiochos XI and Philip I present themselves as the united avengers of their fallen brother - yet, in the end, even the surviving twin would not hesitate to wage war against his own sibling, Demetrios III. Nevertheless, as a depiction of a royal twin pair, this coin is utterly unique in the entire ancient world and of the highest historical and iconographic significance - especially, perhaps, to those who, like this cataloguer, share the special bond of being a twin. This lot cannot be shipped to a US address. Starting price: 1000 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 21 | Auction date: 30 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 265 Price realized: 8,000 CHF (Approx. 10,192 USD / 8,751 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: INDO-SKYTHIANS. Azes, circa 58-12 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 31 mm, 9.31 g, 12 h), uncertain mint in Gandhara. BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY / AZOY Zeus standing left, holding torque in his raised right hand and long filleted scepter in his left. Rev. 'Maharajasa raja rajasa Ayasa' (in Karoshti) Nike standing right, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond over her left shoulder; to lower right, monogram. HGC 12, 625. MIG Type 737a. Senior 76.4T. Perfectly struck on a very broad broad flan and exceptionally well preserved, very likely the finest known example. Very light marks on the obverse, otherwise, good extremely fine. Ex Leu 3, 27 October 2018, 144, Künker 262, 13 March 2015, 7335, Leu 83, 6 May 2002, 447 and from a collection of Baktrian and Indian coins, Peus 345, 1 November 1995, 439. Whereas earlier scholarship assumed the existence of two kings named Azes, it is now generally accepted that there was only a single ruler of that name. He was probably based initially in eastern Gandhara and gradually extended his rule to western Gandhara as well, becoming the most powerful ruler in the region. His innovative coinage draws on both Greek and local iconography; particularly striking are the consistently bilingual inscriptions, with Greek on the obverse and Kharosthi on the reverse, as well as the complete absence of royal portraits. The technical and stylistic quality of these coins varies considerably: alongside fine issues in an accomplished style and of high-quality silver, there are billon and bronze pieces that are markedly inferior in both style and execution. Our specimen is probably the finest known coin of Azes. Its outstanding style and superb strike show that the king, at least at times, had access to highly skilled die engravers and mint workers. This lot can be shipped to a US address. When delivered in Switzerland, this item is subjected to margin taxation in accordance with Art. 24a MWSTG (Swiss VAT Act), provided that the buyer is not registered for VAT. Estimate: 5000 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 42 | Auction date: 27 June 2026 |
| Lot number: 134 Price realized: 900 CHF (Approx. 1,112 USD / 976 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: KINGS OF THRACE. Lysimachos, 305-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 17.00 g, 12 h), uncertain mint (in Macedonia?), circa 280-250. Diademed head of Alexander the Great to right with horn of Ammon over his ear. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ Athena seated left, holding Nike, crowning the king's name, in her right hand and leaning with her left arm on shield; behind, transverse spear; in inner left field, monogram of ΣΩ above bearded head (or mask) to left; in exergue, monogram. Mektepini 735. Meydancikkale -. Müller 461. Thompson -. Very rare and with a very unusual reverse symbol. Minor marks and the obverse a bit weak, otherwise, very fine. This lot cannot be shipped to a US address. Starting price: 150 CHF |  |
Match 4:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 21 | Auction date: 30 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 117 Price realized: 2,200 CHF (Approx. 2,803 USD / 2,407 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great', 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.91 g, 12 h), uncertain mint in Greece or Macedon. Struck under Kassander or Antigonos II Gonatas, circa 310-275. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; in field to left, amphora. Price 863. A very attractive example, nicely toned and of lovely style. A few faint marks, otherwise, about extremely fine. From the Pavlos Seitanidis Collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica Autumn Sale 2025, 9 November 2025, 2168, from the Vineyard Collection, Nomos 17, 26 October 2018, 101, ex Gorny & Mosch 125, 13 October 2003, 121 and Gorny & Mosch 114, 4 March 2002, 75. This lot can be shipped to a US address. When delivered in Switzerland, this item is subjected to margin taxation in accordance with Art. 24a MWSTG (Swiss VAT Act), provided that the buyer is not registered for VAT. Estimate: 1000 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 40 | Auction date: 14 March 2026 |
| Lot number: 968 Price realized: 600 CHF (Approx. 760 USD / 664 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: BAKTRIA, Local Issues. Circa 295/3-285/3 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 16.07 g, 7 h), uncertain mint in the Oxus region. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette; to left, monogram. Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; above tail, bunch of grapes. Bopearachchi, Sophytes, 6-7. HGC 12, -. Nicolet-Pierre & Amandry 13. SNG ANS -. Taylor, Birds, Group 2.7, 51-64. Lightly toned. Harshly cleaned and with minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine. This lot cannot be shipped to a US address. When delivered in Switzerland, this item is subjected to margin taxation in accordance with Art. 24a MWSTG (Swiss VAT Act), provided that the buyer is not registered for VAT. Starting price: 100 CHF |  |
