TC: Seleukid 4dr of Alexander II Zebinas
$127.51
Seller: Tom Cederlind, Portland, Oregon

SELEUKID KINGDOM: ALEXANDER II, 'ZEBINAS'. 128-123 BC. Silver
      Tetradrachm, 31mm (16.36 gm). O: Diademed head of Alexander
      right. R: Zeus enthroned left, hoding Nike. cf. BMC 2ff. Well
      centered and VF with a pleasing portrait. It is interesting to
      consider how Alexander II gained his appellation as 'Zebinas'
      (an Aramaic nickname that meant "The Bought One"). Engaged in
      a campaign against a rival for the throne, he needed money to
      pay his troops. He solved this problem by stealing the golden
      Nike held by the gold statue of Zeus at Daphne. He had this
      melted down and thus obtained gold from which to mint coins.
      Having gotten away with this, he attempted to steal the entire
      statue! This precipitated an uprising by his subjects, who
      were superstitious and afraid of the consequences of
      despoiling such a holy temple. His support completely
      undermined, Alexander was subsequently captured by Antiochos
      VIII and put to death. There survives at least one of the gold
      coins minted from the above mentioned Nike. This remarkable
      coin is in the British Museum.