Tetradrachm - Antiochos V Eupator (Ptolemaïs-Ake) 164 BC
164 BC year| Silver | 15.46 g | 33 mm |
| Issuer | Seleucid Empire (Seleucid Empire (305 BC - 64 BC)) |
|---|---|
| King | Antiochos V Eupator (163 BC - 161 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 164 BC |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 15.46 g |
| Diameter | 33 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#425210 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Apollo, testing arrow and resting hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; monograms to outer left and outer right, two monograms in exergue.
Script: Greek
Lettering: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ
Comment
The unusually youthful portrait on this very rare issue of Ptolemaïs led Houghton and Le Rider to speculate that these tetradrachms may belong to a coregency of Antiochos IV and V during the former's eastern campaign. The absence of the title Eupator from this issue, which would have been assumed by Antiochos V at the time of his father's death, suggests this issue was struck when Antiochos IV was still living. While Antiochos IV was in the east, Lycias, the Seleukid vice regent, was campaigning in Judaea to put down the revolt of the Maccabees, and it is possible that he required coinage to be produced at the mint of Ptolemaïs for this purpose. Interestingly, the monogram on the obverse of this issue, which is different from all other obverse controls at Ptolemaïs, could be resolved as the first letters of Lysias's name.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the image of Antiochos V Eupator, who was a prominent king of the Seleucid Empire, on one side, and an image of the goddess Athena on the other. This coin was used as a means of currency and trade during the reign of Antiochos V Eupator and was widely circulated throughout the empire.
