Greek Silver & Bronze Coins - Celtic - Susanian

Lot 4262    SESSION 16 (9.30AM THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins - Celtic - Susanian

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

SYRIA, Kingdom of, Antiochos I Soter, (280-261 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.49 g), issued from the Al Khanoum (Alexandria on the Oxus?) mint, obv. diademed head of Antiochos I to right, dotted border, rev. Apollo seated to left on omphalos, holding arrow and resting on bow, on either side **BASILEWS* ANTIOXOY with a monogram **L8 in circle, (S.7176, SC 438.1, cf.SNG Spaer 328, Houghton 1289 var., HGC 9, 128i [R2]). Slightly off centred on the obverse, very fine and very rare.

Ex Nummorum Auctiones, Italo Vecchi Ltd., London Auction Sale 17, 15 December 1999 (lot 353 and illustrated).
Al Khanoum, situated in north-eastern Afghanistan, is the only Graeco-Bactrian city that has been excavated in modern times. Its ancient name is disputed, but its considerable size and location make the identification as Alexandria on the Oxus (and later Eukratidia) plausible.