SELEUCUS I SILVER TETRADRACHM – RARE PERSIS ISSUE WITH ARAMAIC CONTROL – XF NGC GRADED GREEK SELEUCID COIN (Inv. 20145)

$4,500.00

20145. SELEUCID KINGDOM. SELEUCUS I, 312–281 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 17.09 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 XF, Strike 3/5, Surface 4/5, scarce variety.
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, originally considered an imitation, bears an Aramaic inscription. Since these are now documented in conjunction with emissions of related drachms and obols with the same Aramaic letters (Marest–Caffey Group 6, A1; Group 8), it is almost certain that they were official emissions clearly involving a local official whose name was rendered in Aramaic.