Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 1



      ancient classic artifacts coins numismatic roman greek 



                     Enter Search Term
                   
                  (i.e. Keywords, Catalog ID, etc.)
                   

            Mail Bid Home Page

             

                        Lot: 222

                        (click on image to enlarge)
                        SELEUCID KINGDOM: In name of Philip I Philadelphus. 
                        89-83 BC. AR tetradrachm (15.75 gm).

                        In name of Philip I Philadelphus (89-83 BC). Silver 
                        tetradrachm (15.75 gm). Posthumous issue struck by 
                        Antioch on the Orontes, 44/3 BC. Diademed head of Philip 
                        I right / BASILEWS FILIPPO[U] EPIFANOU[S] 
                        [FI]LADELF[OU], Zeus enthroned left, holding Nike on 
                        extended right hand and scepter in left, AYT monogram in 
                        inner left field, LI monogram under throne; in exergue, 
                        thunderbolt divided by S (year 6), all in laurel wreath. 
                        RPC 4130. Prieur 7. Some encrustation. Mint state 

                        This coin is dated according to the Caesarian era, which 
                        began on 1 October 49 BC. (The calendar in use was still 
                        the Seleucid version of the Macedonian calendar, in 
                        which the year commenced after the autumnal equinox, see 
                        A.E. Samuel, Greek and Roman Chronology, p. 142). The 
                        tetradrachm issue of year 6 was very likely struck on 
                        the authority of the tyrannicide G. Cassius Longinus, 
                        who fled to Asia in autumn of 44 and illegally took 
                        possession of Syria early in 43. It is curious that 
                        Cassius did not see fit to cancel the Caesarian era, 
                        since he was engaged in gathering resources to fight a 
                        civil war based on the proposition that Caesar had been 
                        a mortal threat to the Roman republic. 
                        Estimated Value: $ 400 




...Sold for $325 USD [ approx 247 EUR, 172.25 GBP ] plus 15% buyers fee. 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
                      and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).