Antiochos VII Euergetes AR Tetradrachm Antioch Athena Nikephoros SC 2148

Antiochos VII Euergetes. Tetradrachm, silver. Reign 138–129 BC; struck 138–129 BC at Antioch on the Orontes. 16.80 g; 30 mm. Anepigraphic obverse with diademed head of Antiochos VII right, very long hair falling at the back of the neck. Reverse BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY; Athena standing left, holding Nike left and resting left hand on grounded shield; vertical spear rising from her arm; laurel-wreath border; control monograms in left field. Struck on a broad flan with complete legends and wreath. Cited in Houghton & Lorber, Seleucid Coins (SC) 2148.

Antiochos VII, known as Sidetes, was the last Seleucid ruler to restore substantial royal authority, defeating the usurper Diodotos Tryphon and reasserting control over Syria and parts of Phoenicia and Judaea. In 130 BC he launched a major campaign against the Parthians that briefly recovered Babylonia and Media; his death in 129 BC ended these gains and marked the final decline of Seleucid power. The Antioch Athena Nikephoros tetradrachms were a principal silver issue of his reign, struck on the Attic standard for military finance and regional commerce.