COINS OF THE SELEUCID EMPIRE from the Coll ction of Arthur Houghton hv ()liver l ). Hoover ANCIENT COINS IN NORTH AMERICAN COLLECTIONS No. 9 COINS OF THE SELEUCID EMPIRE FROM THE COLLECTION OF ARTHUR HOUGHTON II PART By D. OLIVER HOOVER ANCIENT COINS IN NORTH AMERICAN COLLECTIONS PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY NEW YORK 2007 FORALPINA © 2007 The American Numismatic Society szne qua non ISSN 0271-4019 ISBN-13: 978-0-89722-299-0 ISBN-10: 0-89722-299-7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hoover, Oliver D. (Oliver David), 1972- Coins of the Seleucid Empire from the collection of Arthur Houghton. Part II/ by Oliver D. Hoover. p. cm. -- (Ancient coins in North American collections, ISSN 0029-6031 ; no. 9) Includes bibliographic references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-89722-299-0 (hardcover: alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-89722-299-7 (hardcover: alk. paper) l. Coins, Greek--Middle East--Private collections--United States--Catalogs. 2. Houghton, Arthur, 1940- --Coin collections--Catalogs. 3. Seleucids. I. Title. CJ699.H65 2007 737.4938--dc22 2006039302 The American Numismatic Society 96 Fulton Street New York, NY 10038 Printed in China CONTENTS PREFACE IX LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi CATALOGUE Seleucus I Nicator Nos. 1-102 Antiochus I Soter 103-138 Antiochus II Theos 139-163 Seleucus II Callinicus 164-209 Antiochus Hierax 210-218 Seleucus III Soter 219-223 Achaeus 224 Antiochus III the Great 225-283 Seleucus IV Philopator 284-301 Antiochus, the Son of Seleucus IV 302 Antiochus IV Epiphanes 303-385 Antiochus V Eupator 386-388 Ti march us 389 Demetrius I Soter 390-434 Commagenean Drachms in the Name of Demetrius I 435-442 Alexander I Balas 443-485 Interregnum of 146/5 BC 486 Demetrius II Nicator (First Reign) 487-547 Antiochus VI Dionysus 548-562 Tryphon 563-568 Antiochus VII Sidetes 569-642 Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Antiochus VII 643-657 Demetrius II Nicator (Second Reign) 658-689 Young Antiochus Epiphanes 690 Alexander II Zabinas 691-712 Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII Grypus 713-717 Antiochus VIII Grypus 718-757 Antiochus IX Cyzicenus 758-783 Seleucus VI Epiphanes 784-792 Antiochus X Eusebes 793-795 Demetrius III Eucaerus 796-806 Philip I Philadelphus 807-815 Antiochus XII Dionysus 816-823 Cleopatra Selene and Antiochus XIII Philometor 824 Vlll CONTENTS Antioch Tetradrachms in the Name of Philip I 825-829 PREFACE Foreign Silver Coins Countermarked by Seleucid Authorities 830-836 Non-Seleucid Coins and Other Objects 837-849 Seleucid Lead Objects 850-853 In 1983, the American Numismatic Society published Arthur Houghton's Coins of the Seleucid Empire Silver Plated Coins with Seleucid Types 854-906 (hereafter CSE 1) as the fourth volume in its Ancient Coins in North American Collections series. The col lection catalogued between its covers was an excellent representative sample of the coinage struck under INDICES the Seleucid kings throughout their empire from its foundation in 312 BC to its dissolution in 64 BC. Be cause of its broad scope, the inclusion of material from all of the major and many of the minor mints, and PLATES numismatic commentary, CSE l quickly became an indispensable volume for scholars and collectors. Ed ward T. Newell, the American exponent of modern Seleucid numismatic study, would have approved, since his major works on the eastern and western Seleucid m.ints up to the time of Antiochus Ill, and the m.int of Antioch, were sim.ilarly aimed at painting the broad picture of Seleucid coinage production. However, his I ife was cut short before he could bring his dream to full fruition. One of the wonderful things about Seleucid numismatics is that new material is discovered on an almost weekly basis. Hence, in the twenty-three years that have elapsed since the publication of CSE 1, a moun tain of new varieties of known series, as well as previously unknown issues has accumulated. Likewise, over two decades of further study has led to new attributions and historical conclusions about known coins. As part of his attempt to realize Newell's dream of a comprehensive catalogue of Seleucid coinage in the form of Seleucid Coins, Pa1ts 1 and 2 (hereafter SC 1 and 2), Houghton formed a second collection largely dedicated to this material in the years after the publication of CSE 1. Because the primary focus of this collection was on new issues and new varieties, the coins in the present volume do not so much serve as a representative sampling of the coinage for each ruler and mint, but rather as a supplement to the material in CSE 1. For the most part, readers will not find many examples of coins already recorded in CSE 1, although some have been listed because of their superlative state of preservation or some special feature of interest. Instead, the catalogue has in large part been given over to the new and sometimes unusual issues that have been discovered since 1983. These include, but are by no means limited to, the silver of Seleucus I's first tenure as Satrap of Babylon, the posthumous tetradrachms of Antiochus VII produced in Cappadocia, and a rare bronze of the joint reign of Cleopatra Selene and Antiochus XIII. The extensive collection of regular and imitative Seleucid coinage is supplemented by what is probably the world's largest assemblage of Seleucid fourees, as well as a group of Seleucid-related lead objects. The catalogue also describes several issues that are no longer believed to have been struck under the direct au thority of the Seleucid kings. In CSE 1 the numismatic material was organized by region and m.int in a modified version of Newell's arrangement in Eastern Seleucid Mints and Western Seleucid Mints. While this sort of organization m.ight have proven useful for those already intimately fam.iliar with the Seleucid series and able to recognize mints through control marks and variations in fabric and artistic style, it was not especially helpful for those who were new to the fascinating and seemingly ever expanding world of Seleucid numismatics. In an effort to make Coins of the Seleucid Empire, Part II (hereafter CSE 2) more user-friendly, the coins are now arranged by ruler first and then by mint using the same format as that found in SC. All of the coins in CSE 2 are referenced to SC, the new standard reference for the coinages of the Seleucid Empire, as well as to acquisition number, prefixed by the abbreviation AHNS (Arthur Houghton, New Series) used in earlier publications. X PREFACE XI In the belief that epigraphy and letter forms remain a largely untapped resource for understanding the ABBREVIATIONS coinage of the Seleucid Empire, every attempt has been made to give the inscriptions in the catalogue text as they appear on the coins. Likewise, as in SC 1, distinctive typological features (i.e., bearded portraits, Antioche de Syrie G. Le Rider, 1999. Antioche de Syrie sous Les Seleucides. Corpus des monnaies changes in divine attributes, etc.) have been flagged by the use of italics. d'or et d'argent I: de Seleucos I a Antiochos V, c. 300-161. Paris. Although Hellenized rather than Latinized spellings for Greek names (i.e., "Seleukos" as opposed to "Seleucus") increasingly tend to be the norm for academic works, the Latinized forms have been retained Babelon E. Babelon, 1890. Catalogue des monnaies grecques de la Bibliotheque Nationale. Les rois de Syrie, d'Armenie et de Commagene. Paris. here for the sake of consistency with CSE 1 as well as SC, both of which follow the Latinized orthography preferred by Newell. Barag, Antiochus N D. Barag, 2000-2002. "The Mint of Antiochus IV in Jerusalem. Numismatic Evidence on the Prelude to the Maccabean Revolt," INJ 14, pp. 59-77. Each coin in this collection has been painstakingly photographed by Travis Markel using the facilities and equipment of Classical Numismatic Group. The plate images bear clear testament to his considerable Bellinger, End A. Bellinger, 1949. "The End of the Seleucids," Transactions of the Connecticut photographic skills. I would like to thank him for his efforts to make the plates a pleasing visual experience Academy of Arts and Sciences 38, pp. 51-102. for the reader. 13ijovsky, Demetrius I G. Bijovsky, 1994-1999. "A Coin of Demetrius I from Akko-Ptolemais," INJ 13, Special thanks are due to Arthur Houghton for his faith in my ability to do justice to this wonderful col pp. 39-45. lection, as well as to Ute Wartenberg Kagan, Executive Director of the American Numismatic Society, for BMC Syria W. Wroth, 1899. Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Galatia, Cappadocia and her unflagging support for this project. I also wish to thank Catharine Lorber, who designed most of the Syria. London. control fonts used throughout the catalogue and commented upon parts of the text, Wayne Moore for his early review of the material, G. R. F. Assar for sharing information on cuneiform evidence, and Wolfgang Bopearachchi, Travaux Le Rider 0. Bopearachchi, 1999. "Les monnaies seleucides de I' Asie centrale et !'atelier Fischer-Bossert, Petr Vesely, and Mi.i§erref Yetim for their keen proofing eyes. Any errors that may remain de Bactres," in M. Amandry and S. Hurter (eds.), 1999. Travaux de numismatique grecque ojferts a Georges Le Rider. London. pp. 77-93. are entirely my own. I would also like to thank Daniel Geagan and Bruce Brace for first introducing me to the importance CH X 0. Hoover, A. Meadows, and U. Wartenberg Kagan (eds.), forthcoming. Coin Hoards X: Seleucid Hoards. New York. of numismatics as a historical discipline in an undergraduate seminar at McMaster University many years ago. CSE 1 A. Houghton, 1983. Coins of the Seleucid Empire from the Collection of Arthur Finally, I owe special thanks to my family, who have had to share my affections with a motley band of Houghton. ACNAC 4. New York. dead eastern monarchs now for longer than I can remember: to my parents Jean and David Hoover, for their Draganov, Sardes D. Draganov, 1993-94. "Four Seleucid Notes: 1. A New Bronze Issue of unceasing love and support, and whose heirloom King James Bible filled my mind with the epic struggle Antiochus II of Sardes," AJN 5-6, pp. 43-46. between the Hasmonaeans and the mighty Seleucid Empire from an early age, and especially to my wife Duyrat, Arados F. Duyrat, 2005. Arados hellenistique. Etude historique et monetaire. BAH 173. Alpina, whose patience, understanding, and love, have made this book, and all things, possible. Beyrouth. Burlington, Ontario Duyrat, Phenicie F. Duyrat, 2002. "Les ateliers monetaires de Phenicie du Nord a l'epoque hellenistique," in C. Auge and F. Duyrat (eds.), Les Monnayages syriens. December 2006 Beyrouth, pp. 21-69. Ehling, Helms K. Ehling, 1997. "Uberlegungen zur Hernkunft und Bedeutung des Helms auf den Miinzen Antiochos' VI. und Tryphons," JNG 47, pp. 21-27. ESM E. T. Newell, 1938 (1978). The Coinage of the Eastern Seleucid Mints from Seleucus I to Antiochus III. ANSNS l. New York. Fischer-Bossert, Test-Piece W. Fischer-Bossert, 2002. "A Lead Test Piece of a Syracusan Tetradrachm by the Engravers Euth ... and Eum. .. ," NC 163, pp. 1-9. Hendin, Test Strike D. Hendin, 2006. "A Bronze Test Strike from the Bar Kokhba Revolt," Israel Numismatic Research l, pp. 111-116. Hoover, Aradian Bronze 0. Hoover, 2006. "A Second Look at the Aradian Bronze Coinage Attributed to Seleucus I (SC 72-73)," AJN 18, pp. 43-50. Xll ABBREVIATIONS As BREVIATIONS Xlll Hoover, Gaza 0. Hoover, 2006. "A Late Hellenistic Lead Coinage from Gaza," Israel !Jyzantine Demetrias in South Phoenicia," in J. H. Humphrey (ed.). The Roman and Numismatic Research I, pp. 25-36. Byzantine Near East: Some Recent Archaeological Research. JRA Suppl. 14. Ann Arbor, pp. 9-14. Hoover, Helmeted Head 0. Hoover, 2002. "The Helmeted Head on the 'Victory' Coinage of Susa," SNR 81, pp. 51-60. I.SM E.T. Newell, 1939. The Late Seleucid Mints in Ake-Ptolemais and Damascus. ANSNNM 84. New York. Hoover, Notes 0. Hoover, 1998. "Notes on Some Imitation Drachms of Demetrius I Soter from Cornmagene," AJN 10, pp. 71-94. Moore, Nisibis W. Moore, 1986. "The Divine Couple of Demetrius II, Nicator, and his Coinage at Nisibis," ANSMN 31, pp. 125-143. Hoover, Revised Chronology 0. Hoover, forthcoming. "A Revised Chronology for the Late Seleucids at Antioch, 121/0-64 BC" Historia. M0rkholm, Antiochia 0. M0rkholm, 1970. "The Seleucid Mint at Antiochia on the Persian Gulf," ANSMN 16, pp. 31-44. Hoover, Seleucus VII 0. Hoover, 2005. "Dethroning Se!eucus VII Philometor (Cybiosactes): Epigraphical Arguments Against a Late Seleucid Monarch," ZPE 151, M0rkholm, Classification 0. M0rkholm, 1969. "The Classification of Cappadocian Coins," NC, pp. 21-31. pp. 95-99. M0rkholm, Western 0. M0rkholm, 1965-1966. "Some Western Seleucid Coins," !NJ 3, pp. 8-14. Houghton, Antioch and Tarsus A. Houghton, 1993. "The Reigns of Antiochus VIII and Antiochus IX at Antioch and Tarsus," SNR 72, pp. 87-106. Rouvier, Gebal-Byblos J. Rouvier, 190 l. "Numismatique des villes de la Phenicie: Gebal-Byblos," JIAN 4, pp. 35-66. Houghton, Antiochus VII A. Houghton, 1986. "A Victory Coin and the Parthian Wars of Antiochus VII," in Proceedings oft he 10'" International Numismatic Congress. London, p. 65. RPC I A. Burnett, M. Amandry, P. P. Ripolles, 1998. Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. 1, From the Death of Caesar to the Death of Vitellius (44 BC-AD 69). Houghton, Countermarks A. Houghton, 1993-1994. "Four Seleucid Notes: 4. Countermarks of Tryphon: London. Comments on the Circulation of Currency in Northern Syria ea. 150-140 B.C.," AJN 5-6, pp. 59-68. RRC M. Crawford, 1974. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge. Houghton, Double A. Houghton, 1987. "The The Double Portrait Coins of Antiochus XI and Philip I: SC 1 A. Houghton and C. Lorber, 2002. Seleucid Coins. A Comprehensive Catalogue, A Seleucid Mint at Beroea?" SNR 66, pp. 79-85. Part 1: Seleucus I through Antiochus Ill. New York and Lancaster. Houghton, Essays Mildenberg A. Houghton, 1984. "The Seleucid Mint of Mall us and the Cult Figure of Athena SC2 A. Houghton, C. Lorber, and 0. Hoover, forthcoming. Seleucid Coins. A Magarsia," in A. Houghton, S. Hurter, P. Erhru.t Mottahedeh and J. Ayer Comprehensive Catalogue, Part 2: Seleucus IV through Antiochus XIII. Scott (eds.). Studies in Honor of Leo Mildenberg. Belgium, pp. 91-110. New York and Lancaster. Houghton, Lead A. Houghton, 1990-1991. "Two Late Seleucid Lead Issues from the Levant," INJ 11, Seyrig, Eres H. Seyrig, 1950. "Antiquites syriennes. 42. Sur Jes ere§ de quelques villes pp. 26-31. de Syrie: Antioche, Apamee, Arethuse, Balanee, Epiphanie, Laodicee, Rhosos, Damas, Beryte, Tripolis, !'ere de Cleopatre, Chalcis du Liban, Houghton, Notes A. Houghton, 1980. "Notes on the Early Seleucid Victory Coinage of Doliche," Syria 27, pp. 5-56. 'Persepolis'," SNR 59, pp. 5-14. Seyrig, Nisibe H. Seyrig, 1955. "Tresor monetaire de Nisibe," RN, pp. 85-128. Houghton, Samaria-Sebaste A. Houghton, 2000. "A Mint of Antiochus IX at Samaria-Sebaste?" AJN 12, pp. 107-112. Seyrig, Notes H. Seyrig, 1950. Notes on Syrian Coins. ANSNNM 119. New York. Houghton, Soli A. Houghton, 1989. "The Royal Seleucid Mint of Soli," NC 149, pp. 15-32. SNG Levante E. Levante, 1986. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: Switzerland I. Levante Cilicia. Paris. Houghton and Le Rider, A. Hougl)ton and G. Le Rider, 1988. "Un premier regne d'Antiochos VIII Premier regne Epiphane a Antioche en 128," BCH 112.1, pp. 410-411. SNG Spaer A. Houghton and A. Spaer, 1998. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: Israel I. The Arnold Spaer Collection of Seleucid Coins. Jerusalem. Houghton and Lorber, A. Houghton and C. Lorber, 2006. "Cappadocian Tetradrachms in the Name of Cappadocian Tetradrachms Antiochus VII," NC 166, pp. 49-89. SNG von Aulock G. Kleiner, 1957. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Deutsch/and: Sammlung Hans van Aulock 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia. Berlin. IGCH M. Thompson, 0. M0rkholm, and C. Kraay (eds.), 1973. An Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards. New York. SNG von Post C. Boehringer, 1995. Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Sweden 1.2: Sammlung Eric van Post. Stockholm. lossif and Lorber, Celestial P. Iossif and C. Lorber, fmthcoming. "Celestial Iconography on the Eastern Coinage of Antiochus IV" Weil3 and Ehling, Marktgewichte P. WeiB and K. Ehling, 2006. "Marktgewichte im Namen seleukidischer Konige," Chiron 36, pp. 269-378. Kushnir-Stein, Roman and A. Kushnir-Stein, 1995. "The Predecessor of Caesarea: On the Identification of I SELEUCUS NICATOR 312-281 BC Although he did not receive his own province at the Settlement of Babylon in 323, in recognition for his part in the murder of Perdiccas, Seleucus was given the prize satrapy of Babylonia in 320, which he ruled until he was driven out by Antigonus the One-Eyed five years later. After a period acting as a Ptolemaic naval commander, Seleucus raised a contingent of troops and reclaimed Babylonia for himself in June of 311. Antigonid forces continued to make attempts to dislodge him until 308, but with no success. In the relative peace that followed in the west, Seleucus turned his small territory into an empire by conquering the Upper Satrapies, coming to terms with the Indian ruler Chandragupta Maurya, and at last claiming the royal title for himself in 305/4. As part of a coalition of kings, Seleucus played a key role in the destruction of Antigonus at the battle of Ipsus in 301, thereby gaining additional possessions in eastern Anatolia and Syria. From 301 to the late 280s most of Seleucus' energy was spent on consolidating his empire through the foundation of numerous cities, including Seleucia on the Tigris and Antioch on the Orontes, and by establishing Antiochus I as co-regent. With the exception of some issues of Babylon, Susa, and Ecbatana, cities that were taken early in Seleucus' career, most of the coins in this catalogue date to this period of consolidation. In 282, Seleucus invaded the western Anatolian lands controlled by Lysimachus at the invitation of disaffected segments of the populace. By February of 281, he had defeated and killed Lysimachus at the battle of Corupedium. The Seleucid Empire now stretched from the Aegean coastline to the borders of India. However, in September of the same year triumph turned into tragedy when Seleucus was assassinated on the way to take possession of Lysimachus' European territories. He was succeeded by his son and coregent, Antiochus I. SARDES, 282-28 I BC Rev. BA above, bull head and neck three quarters r. Silver tetradrachm 2. 1' 1.09. SC 7b. (AHNS 265). Obv. Head of young Heracles r. in lion skin headdress, dotted border. UNATTRIBUTED DRACHM ISSUE, PROBABLY OF Rev. H AEYKOY on r., BALIAE.0.L in ex., Zeus WESTERN ASIA MINOR, C. 28 I BC enthroned I., holding Nike and sceptre, dotted border. Silver drachm 1. 1' 17.04. Rev., m I. field, E; under Obv. Head of young Heracles r. in lion skin throne, AL SC 3.3a. (AHNS 1013). headdress, dotted border. Rev. HAEYKOY on r., BALIAE.0.I in ex., Zeus Royal bronze coinage enthroned I., holding Nike and sceptre, dotted border. Denomination D or E 3. 1' 4.25. Rev., in I. field, F"'. SC Ad45. Obv. Winged head of Medusa r., dotted border. (AHNS 1014).