Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Gryphos, 121-114 BC, Tetradrachm

Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Gryphos, Tetradrachm, AR, reign 121–97 BC; struck c. 121–114 BC; 16.30 g; 28 mm. Uncertain “EP” mint, likely in Cilicia west of Tarsos. Obv. Diademed head of Antiochos VIII right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ; Zeus Ouranios standing facing, head left, holding star in right hand and long scepter in left; crescent above; monogram above ΕΠ in left field. Struck on the Attic standard at the so‑called “EP” mint; subtype SC 2281c distinguished by the specific monogram above ΕΠ and notably less frequently encountered than SC 2281a; no examples recorded in ACSearch. Houghton & Lorber, SC 2281c; CSE 724. Antiochos VIII ruled during the fragmentation of the Seleucid kingdom, contending with rival claimants and regional power bases; silver tetradrachms like this EP‑mint series reflect decentralized production used to fund military and administrative needs in Cilicia and adjacent regions. The Zeus Ouranios type with star and crescent is characteristic of these EP emissions and serves as a clear diagnostic of this short‑lived workshop within Antiochos VIII’s early issues.