Antiochos II Theos, 361-246 BC, Tetradrachm

Antiochos II Theos, Tetradrachm, AR, reign of Antiochos II Theos, minted in Seleukeia on the Tigris, 261-246 BC. The coin weighs 16.43 grams and typically measures around 29 mm in diameter. The obverse features a diademed head of Antiochos I facing right, providing a fine example of Hellenistic portraiture. On the reverse, the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ surrounds an elegant, centrally placed image, consistent with other issues of this period. This tetradrachm corresponds to Numismatic ID SC 587.1b. The piece is well-struck with clear details and exhibits minimal wear, indicating careful handling over the centuries. Antiochos II Theos ruled as a monarch of the Seleucid Empire, one of the largest successor states to Alexander the Great's empire. His reign was marked by intermittent conflict and territorial adjustments in the complex political landscape of the Hellenistic world. This coin is an artifact from a time of dynastic consolidation and reflects the continuity of Hellenistic traditions through its artistic style and inscription.