ANTIOCHUS VIII SILVER TETRADRACHM – EX SALTON COLLECTION AND FROM THE SALTON-SCHLESSINGER SALE OF 1955 – XF NGC GRADED GREEK SELEUCID KINGDOM COIN (Inv. 18536)

$1,200.00

FPL V, 34 (18536). SELEUCID KINGDOM. ANTIOCHUS VIII, 125-96 BC.
Silver tetradrachm, 16.20 g, 27 mm. Issue of Antioch on the Orontes, ca. 109-96 BC.
Obv. Diademed head of Antiochus VIII right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Nicephorus standing left, P above A to outer left, ΛI control below throne, all within laurel wreath.
HGC 9, 1200; SC 2309.1d.
Ex Salton Collection, from the Salton-Schlessinger Mail Auction Sale XXIII, 11/22/1955, lot 717.
NGC graded XF, Surface 5/5, Strike 4/5, dark gray patina, with the photographs used by Salton to illustrate the coin in 1955.

Like the preceding tetradrachm, this piece belongs to the third and final reign of Antiochus VIII Grypus at Antioch on the Orontes. It is somewhat ironic that while he was producing this coinage to continue the struggle against Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, his own war minister, Heracleon, was plotting against him. In 96 BC, before Antiochus VIII ever got the opportunity to make new inroads against his half-brother’s possessions in the south, Heracleon had him murdered.