Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 1 Lot: 192

SELEUCID KINGDOM. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC). 
Silver-plated tetradrachm (subaeratum) (14.75 gm). Susa, 
ca. 305/4-295 BC. Head of hero right (assimilating 
Seleucus, Alexander, and Dionysus), wearing helmet 
covered with panther skin and adorned with bull's ear 
and horns, panther skin tied around neck / BASILEWS 
SELEUKOU, Nike standing right, crowning trophy, PA 
(retrograde) in lower left field, AX between Nike and 
trophy, PA monogram in lower right field. Cf. SC 
173.12-15. Perhaps from ESMS die A8. 

This coin may be an ancient forgery of the Susa mint. It 
uses the controls of at least two official issues (eg the AP 
and PA monogram are together on SC 173.15, while AX appears 
on several preceding issues). The retrograde P argues against it being an official issue. If this piece is an 
official issue, it would fall between SC 173.14 and 173.15. 
It appears to have been struck from an official obverse die, 
but perhaps one belonging to an earlier phase of the trophy 
coinage. 

Sold for $1,400 USD [ approx 1064 EUR, 742 GBP ] 

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).