Antiochos II Theos, 361-246 BC, Tetradrachm

Antiochos II Theos, Tetradrachm, Silver, reign of 361-246 BC. Minted in Seleukeia on the Tigris. The coin weighs 16.81g with a typical diameter of approximately 30mm. The obverse features a diademed head of Antiochos I facing right, showcasing distinctive Hellenistic artistry. The reverse bears the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ within a wreath, an emblematic device of authority and honor. The strike is well-centered, with high relief providing intricate details on the ruler’s portrait. This coin corresponds to HGC 9, 236, signifying its acknowledged classification and rarity in Greek numismatic circles. Antiochos II Theos, the son of Antiochos I, ruled during a period marked by political alliances and conflict within the Hellenistic world. This era saw the ongoing power struggles amongst the successor states of Alexander the Great's empire. Coins issued under his reign, such as this tetradrachm, are emblematic of the consolidation and assertion of Seleucid power in a region marked by territorial disputes and dynastic challenges.