SELEUCUS I SILVER TETRADRACHM – RARE PERSIS ISSUE OVERSTRUCK OVER AN ALEXANDER TETRADRACHM – CHOICE VF FINE STYLE NGC GRADED GREEK SELEUCID COIN (Inv. 20024)

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20024. SELEUCID KINGDOM. SELEUCUS I, 312–281 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 17.07 g, 27 mm. Issue of an “Uncertain Mint” in Persis, possibly Persepolis, ca. 305–295 BC.
Obv. Head of Seleucus (or Alexander) right, wearing helmet with panther skin covering and bull’s ears and horns. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Nike standing right, crowning trophy, H below left wing, DW (?) (in Aramaic) below right wing.
SC 195; HGC 9, 21.
NGC graded CHOICE VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 4/5, FINE STYLE, “overstruck.”

It is now generally believed that the helmeted head on the obverse is probably a lifetime portrait of Seleucus I with attributes to identify him as a conqueror of the East, while the representation of Nike erecting a trophy celebrates his victory over Antigonus Monophthalmus at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC. While the bulk of the trophy coinage was struck at Susa, hoard evidence suggests that it was intended for circulation in Persis.
This particular variant was initially considered a rare imitation of the official Susa trophy series by Houghton and Lorber due to style and the unexpected presence of an Aramaic inscription. However, the fact that they are now known to have been produced in conjunction with emissions of related drachms and obols with the same Aramaic letters (Marest–Caffey Group 6, A1; Group 8) may perhaps indicate a more official character. The coin offered here adds an important new dimension to our knowledge of this fascinating series as it shows evidence of having been overstruck on earlier tetradrachms featuring the Heracles and Zeus types popularized by Alexander the Great. The fact that such widely recognized types were overstruck illustrates the great popularity of the trophy tetradrachms in Persis. The overstrike is clearly visible on this specimen, with the mandible of Heracles’ lion skin headdress visible on the reverse and a small section of Zeus’ throne on the obverse.