- Seleucid coinage
The coinage of the
Seleucid Empire is based on thecoin s ofAlexander the Great which in turn was based onAthenian coinage of theAttic weight . Many mints and different issues are defined with mainly base andsilver coinage being in abundance. The symbol of Seleucid power was the anchor which was placed on the obverse of coins depicting Alexander but prior to the issuence of coins portraying Seleucid I around306BCE .Denominations
"Bronze" coinage were issued in five type denominations, the weight and size varies greatly and most likely no effort was made to conform to a set standard, they may be denominated in
chalkoi . [ http://www.seleukids.org/seleukids.htm ] :
*A size = 23+ mm = 10+ gm
*B size = 18-23 mm = 6.77-8.63 gm
*C size = 13-17 mm = 3.88 gm
*D size = 12-13 mm = 1.59 gm
*E size = 10-12 mm = 1.13 gm"Silver" coinage come as follow:
*With the denomination based on theObol /And image most common on the coin. [ [Babelon, Rois, Pl. II. 9.] ]
*1Obol = = = Anchor and Bow and Quiver.
*2Diobol = = = Bow and Quiver
*3Hemidrachm = 13 mm = 1.87 gm =
*6Drachm = = 4.10 gm = Anchor
*24Tetradrachm = = = Elephant walking*Coins with the head of
Zeus on the reverse andAthena in elephant car. [ (N. C., 1879, Pl. I. 4) ] These coins are of a lighter [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sg/sg6856.html Phoenician standard] , which were circulated in India prior toAlexander the Great s conquest.Mints
Starting from Seleukos I, these mints were most likely a continuation from before his reign.
Antioch : to ?Seleucia on the Tigris : to ?,Susa :,Ecbatana :,Apamaea mint:,Babylon :, Aï Khanoum,Seleucia in Pieria :,Arados :,Baktria :,Marathus :,Cyzicus ,Lampsacus , Abydus.Designs for each denomination
The coins have many images including the King with a Lion head dress or
Zeus on a throne with a sceptre andeagle in each hand. Bronze coins usually didn't feature the King's image but mostly a god or goddess and in some cases like [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/seleucia/antiochos_I/SC_286v.jpga chanrging bull and ancor] .Under Seleukos I Nicator (Satrap 311–305 BC, King 305 BC–281 BC), as the first king the coinage varieties are similar to Alexander the Greats coinage with his the kings head wearing a lion skin, except the wording was different with BASILEWS SELEYKWS or BASILEWS SELEUKOU. After 300bce the head of this King is portrayed in a similar style to other Greek coinage."Obverses"
*1:Alexander, Seleucid orDionysis ] in helmet covered with a panther skin & adorned with bull's ear & horns, panther skin tied around neck.
*2:Head ofHerakles wearing lion's skin headdress.
*3:Head ofApollo facing right
*4:Young Heracles.
*5:A naked male figure seated facing left on a rock, holding an ankh in his right hand.
*6:Dioskouros
*7:Athena wearing an Attic helmet.
*8:Winged head ofMedusa facing right. "Reverses"
*1:Zeus enthroned left, holding eagle and sceptre
*2:Athena advancing right, brandishing aspear & holding ashield
*3:Bull butting right. On bronze coins
*4:Athena over elephant.
*5:Boeotian shield between Nike &trophy
*6:Forepart of a horse facing right with ananchor above.Antiochus I Soter (co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BC) [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/seleucia/antiochos_I/t.html Coins] Designs are much the same as the above ruler, in featuring the many Greek god's and the King's head, the style seems to evolve in the future.
References
External links
* [http://www.snible.org/coins/hn/syria.html Syria(α) The Seleucid Kings]
* [http://members.verizon.net/vze3xycv/RulersCoins/seleucidPic.htm SELEUCID KINGDOM - COINS]
* [http://home.comcast.net/~pankajtandon/galleries-greek-seleucos1.html Seleucos I]
* [http://home.comcast.net/~pankajtandon/galleries-greek-antiochos.html Antiochos 1]
* [http://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=2149 Zeno.ru]
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