Maison Palombo Geneve

Auction 17  –  20 October 2018

Maison Palombo Geneve, Auction 17

Ancient and World Coins and Medals

Sa, 20.10.2018, from 10:30 AM CEST
The auction is closed.

Description

Syrie - Alexandre Ier Balas (152-145) Tétradrachme - Séleucie de Piérie (166 = 147-146) Rarissime et d’un style exceptionnel. Exemplaire de la vente Leu 22 du 8 mai 1979, N°164 et de la collection N. B. Hunt vente Sotheby’s (New-York) du 19 juin 1990, N°114 et de la collection Abecassis vente Leu 81 du 16 mai 2001, N°339 et de la vente Nomos 6 du 8 février 2012, N°108 16.12g - Houghton, JPGMJ 10, F (cet exemplaire) SC 1798 (cet exemplaire) - Wealth of the Ancient World 112 (cet exemplaire) Superbe - AU Soon after the strike of this coin in 166 of the Seleucid Era (i.e. 147-146 BC), Alexander I Balas was deposed by the forces of Demetrios II Nicator (146-140 and 129-126/125 BC), and he was later murdered by his own officers in 145 BC. The style of this Pheidian-influenced head of Zeus is archaizing, in the style of the coins of the early 5th century BC, a deliberate choice that evokes the issues of his pretended father Antiochos IV ho Epiphanḗs (175-164). The reverse is unusual too, as the thunderbolt – which relates to the cult of Zeus Kasios in Seleukeia (a Hellenisation of Ba’al Zaphon, locally venerated as a storm god renowned for his battle against the sea monster Typhon) – is directly related to the city in which the coin was struck (Appian Syr. 58), and is reminiscent of coins struck under Seleucus I (305-281 BC).

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Bidding

Price realized 22'000 CHF
Starting price 20'000 CHF
Estimate 30'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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