Antiochos II Theos, 361-246 BC, Tetradrachm

Antiochos II Theos, Tetradrachm, AR, reign of Antiochos II Theos, circa 261-246 BC, minted in Seleukeia on the Tigris. Weight: 17.11 g; typical diameter: 30 mm. The obverse features a finely executed diademed head of Antiochos I facing right. The reverse bears the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, encircling a seated image of Apollo, nude, holding an arrow and resting his left hand on a grounded bow. The coin exhibits a strong strike with well-centered devices. Numismatic references include HGC 9, 128a.

Antiochos II Theos, son of Antiochos I, was a ruler of the Seleucid Empire who strengthened its territories through strategic marriages and alliances. His reign marked the continuation of the Seleucid consolidation in the eastern domains following the fragmentation post-Alexander the Great's empire. The coinage from this era reflects both the influence of Hellenistic art and the assertion of divine status, as implied by the epithet "Theos," meaning "god," emphasizing his role within the dynastic cult and his standing in the larger Hellenistic world.