The Royal Seleucid Mint of Seleucia on the Calycadnus

PUBLICATIONS D'HISTOIRE DE L'ART ET D'ARCHEOLOGIE DE L'UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN LIX NUMISMATICA LOVANIENSIA 10 KRAAY. MZRKI_IOLM trSSAYS NUMISMATIC STUDIES IN MEMORY OF C.M. KRAAY AND O. MORKHOLM Eorteo nv LE RIDBR, KertNeru JENKINS, NeNcv WAGGONER euo Ur-r.a WESTERMARK Gaoncns LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE INSTITUT SUPERIEUR D'ARCHEOLOGIE ET D'HISTOIRE DE L'ART SEMINAIRE DE NUMISMATIQUE MARCEL HOC 1989 THE ROYAL SELEUCID MII\T OF SELEUCIA ON THE CALYCADNUS Arthur HoucuroN (Plates XXIII-XXVIII) Abbreuiations Ia Bibliothique Nationale. Zes Rois de Sgrie, Paris, 1890. d'Arminie et de Commagine, A. R. BerI-rNcnr., A Seleucid Mint at Elaeusa Sebaste, rn ANSMN, 3' 1948, p.27-30' P. GanoNnn, Calalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, The Seleucid Kings of Sgria, London, 1878. E. Ba.sor-oN, Catalogue Babelon Bellinger B)IC des monnaies grecques de A. Houcnrou, Coins of the Seleuciit Empire (Ancient Coins in Norlh American Collections,4) New CSE York,1983. ]Iallus Hunter la collection Louis De Clercq, in fiN, s. 6, 21,1979, p.7-53. A. HoucnroN , The Seleucid Mint of Mallus and the Cult Figure of Alhena Magarsia, in Sludles in Honor of Leo Mildenberg, p.91-110. G. MacooNer-o, Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection, Yo1.3, Further Asla, Northern Africa, Western Europe, Glasgow, 1905. O. Monr<nor-u, Seleucid Coins from Cilicia, ca. 220-150 8.C., in ANSMN, 11, 1964' p. 53-62. H. Sovnrc, Trisors du Leuant, anciens et nouoeaur (Trisors monilaires Sileucides,2), Paris, 1973. E. T. Nawor-r-, The Seleucid Mint of Antioch, tn American Journal of Numismatics, 51, New G. LE De Clercq 3 \[orkholm, Clllcfa Sevrig, ?rlsors s.\1.1 Rrorn and H. Snvnrc, Objels York, 1917-18, p. S\G 1-151. Sglloge Nummorum Graecorum Swilzerland I. Leuante-Cilicia, Berne, 1986. W. V. Vorcr, Die Seleucidenmilnzen der Kaiserlichen Eremitage zu St.-Pelersburg, 1911, p.131-172. Leuante Yniai l. de in JIAN,13, Introduction Fel- modern scholars of numismatics have had an impact on their fields of specialized study as or as he profound as Colin Kraay and Otto Msrkholm. To this author in particular, Dr. Morkholm preferred, Mr. Morkholm, or simply Otto became over the course of two decades a critic, guide and friend, whose thoughtful commentaries on Hellenistic coinages became both a source of essential nisdom and encouragement to the development of my first tentative essays in numismatic discovery and scholarship. It is a matter of real satisfaction, therefore, to contribute to Otto's memory with :espect and affection the following article, which deals with a subject he first explored in one of his tarliest published notes, and which draws throughout on much of his own subsequent work (1). * 1 Two Seleucid Coin Notes, in NC, s. 6, 17, 1957, p.6-10. Many individuals have helped me with this wish to thank in particular J. D. Bateson, Gunther Dembski, D. L. Djukov, Silvia Hurter, Anne Kromann, r O. \'Ionxnorxr, .::rrle. I ,< A. Houcurou Nearly forty years ago, Alfred Bellinger commented on a small group of tetradrachms struck under Antiochus VIII and Seleucus VI which showed a standing Athena Nikephoros on their reverses, and the symbol of a little plant placed outside the inscription to the left (r). Bellinger listed the three examples of Antiochus' coinage of the type known to him, and noted some thirty-two other coins of Seleucus VI, which he divided according to their monograms into eleven groups (r). He attributed the series to Elaeusa Sebaste, which he believed to have been Seleucus' principal mint during his preparations for war against Antiochus X (a). Since Bellinger's publication, many Seleucid coins with the same plant symbol and, among the later issues, the same reverse type, have appeared. Taken together, these now provide a broad and quite fascinating picture of a mint whose early production seems to have been very limited, but which under Seleucus VI was marked by a degree of activity unparalleled at any other city of the Empire. Il. The Identitg of the Mint At the beginning of this century, F. Imhoof-Blumer suggested that the reverse type and plant symbol which appeared on the then known coins of Antiochus VIII and Seleucus VI, related them to local bronze issues of Seleucia on the Calycadnus (5). Bellinger, however, noted several monogram associations between these coins and autonomous tetradrachms of Elaeusa Sebaste which seemed persuasive evidence that the Seleucid issues were struck at this city instead (6). Bellinger's view has been supported by Jenkins; Morkholm and Naster have favored the attribution to Seleucia (?). There seems no good reason to question the assumption that the coins of Seleucus VI with the plant symbol and the reverse type of a standing Athena Nikephoros and, by inference, all Seleucid issues with the same combination of symbol and type were struck at a Cilician mint. Historically, Seleucus VI ruled only in Cilicia and Syria Seleucis; since his well-known issues of Antioch provided for the monetary needs of the latter province following his occupation of the city, certain that his coins with the standing Athena reverse were issued in the former. it is virtually Jacqueline Lallemand, Edoardo Levante, Wayne McGovern, Michael Metcalf, Wayne Moore, Wilhelm Museler, J. Radstaat, Hans-Dieter Schultz, J. P. A. Van der Vin, William Wahler, Ulla Westermark and Christian Zindei for their assistance. I owe special thanks to Dominique Gerin, Martin Price and Nancy Waggoner for their generosity in giving time and attention to my needs in the extensive collections of Paris, London and New York; and to Arnold Spaer of Jerusalem, whose collection of Seleucid coins is a resource of special importance to the scholar. The forbearance of these individuals in the face of my many requests, made the completion of this study possible. Francis Campbell, Librarian of the American Numismatic Society, also deserves particular thanks for his many kindnesses. Finally, I am especially indebted to Georges Le Rider for having provided helpful commentary while this paper was in draft. (2) (3) (4) (5) Bnnrxcrn, p.27-30. His table, p.27, shows ten, but he adds to these BMC, p.95, no.2 (no.31 in this catalogue). Above, n.2, p.30. F. Innoon-Brunen, Zur sgrischen Milnzkunde, in N2,33, 1901, p. 4; lo., Kleinasiat[sche Mfinzen, Vienna, 1902, v.2, p.482, no.7. (6) Berr-rNcan, p.29. (7) G. K. JeNxINs, Recent Acquisitions of Greek Coins bg the British Museum, in NC, s.6, 19, 1959, p.44-5, no.26; Monxxor-*r, above n. 1, p. 10; P. N.r.sren, Les monnaies sileucides attribuies d I'atelier d'Elaeusa Sebaste, in ^RBN, 105, 1959, p.13-16. Tns sBLeucID MrNT oF SELEUCIA oN THE 79 CALYCADNUS that the plant symbol represents a city mint. As a brief tabular survey of the Seleucid coinages of Cilicia shows, the cities of this province identified themselves almost without exception on coins struck from the later reign of Antiochus III onwards, by symbols, or by the reverse type itself (8) : It seems equally certain Symbol Reverse Type Cityi Ruler Seleucid Remarks Local Tarsus Ant. III Club; Wing Apollo (later reign) -Ant. V Dem. I Alex. IDem II, 1st R. Ant. VI- CIub; Wing Tyche Sandan none Sandan none Ant. IX Only drachms are known. Except for concurrent standard silver of Ant. VII and Dem. II, 2nd R. Mallus Except for Athena Magarsia Dem. I- drachms of Try- Ant. IX phon ? Mopsus Dem.II, Apollo Fire Altar Standing Athena Fire Altar 1st R. Ant. IX Nikephoros Soll Ant. III Apollo Athena's Head; Grapes; Owl Apollo Apollo Owl Owl Owl (later reign) Sel. IV Ant. IV Ant. IV (for Ariarathes IV) Dem. I Alex. I Dem. II, Ant. VII Seated Athena Nikephoros Owl Tyche Seated AthenaTyche 1st R. Seated Athena Nikephoros ? Indistinct symbol Owl Tets. only; drachm reverse type: Apollo Owl Tets. only; drachm reverse type: Tyche (8) The relationship of symbols and coin types to specific mints in Cilicia has been discussed by H. Srvnrc, Un sgmbole monilaire de Tarse, in Milangu Mansel, Ankara, 1974, p.263-5 ; HoucsroN, Mallus ; G' K. JrNxrNs, Noles on Seleucid Colns, in NC, s.6, 11, 1951, p. 19-21 (Mopsus); Monxnor-n, Cilicia (Soti); followed by A. Houcnron, Tfte Royal Seleucid Mint of Soli, in NC, 149, 1989, forthcoming. The earlier coins of Antiochus III in Cilicia, foltowing the practice at Antioch and other Seleucid mints, are marked by monograms only. It is not known when symbols were first applied to Antiochus' later issues, hut it may have occurred about the time of his return from his eastern anabasis, in 204B.C. A. Houcnrou As can be seen, no symbol was used at Cilician mints where the coin type was unequivocal as to the origin oI the issue for example at Mallus, and Tarsus from the reign of Alexander I Balas onwards. Where the coin type was dynastic or personal to the Seleucid ruler, however, as at Tarsus from the reigns of Antiochus III through that of Demetrius I, and at Mopsus, coins carried the city symbol as a general rule (e). A symbol which appears on Seleucid coins of the province, such as the plant on the issues in question, therefore almost certainly represents a city. The originating mint of the Seleucid coins with the type of Athena Nikephoros and the plant symbol can be positively identified as Seleucia on the Calycadnus, on the basis of the following material, which with a single exception has remained unpublished until very recently (10) : A. Obu. Turreted and veiled city goddess seated r., holding an ear of corn in her r. hand; to 1., KiB; dotted border. Reu. IEAEYKE(ON) to r. ; Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with l. arm, and resting I. hand on shield; in outer I. field, plant or flower; in inner I. field, f/q (?). AE 19.28. SNG Leuante, no. 718 (fig. A). B. Obu. Bust of Athena in crested helmet r. Reu. IEAEYKE(S2N) to r. ; Nike advancing I., holding wreath in outstretched r. hand and palm branch with I. arm; to I., plant or flower and KAE. AE 16.46. SNG Leuante, no.71.7 (fig. B). C. Obu. Latreate head of Apollo r. ; to I., ZY ; to lower r., E. Reu. IEAEYKEON TON IIPO> TS2l KAAYKAANOI Horse protome r. ; to 1., AH; beneath, Al+€ OY. AE 4.69. SNG Leuante, no. 694 (fig. C). D. ODu. Female head r. ; to 1., Z; to r., E ; dotted border. Reu. Five-lobed leaf or plant; to 1., Al-lE ; to r., AH; dotted border. AE 2.36. SNG Leuante, no. 699; SNG uon Aulock, no. 5815 (fig. D). Both A and B, inscribed with the city's name, show the plant symbol. A also carries as its reverse type the standing Athena Nikephoros common to all coins of the Seleucid series from the reign of Alexander I Balas onwards. Such a combination of both type and symbol appearing on a coin which is identified by inscription with Seleucia strongly indicates the attribution of the silver series to this mint. C and D support this judgement. C, also inscribed with the city's name, carries the letters, AH and Al-l€, evidently the mark of individuals associated with the mint. The same letters appears on D, which is not otherwise inscribed, but carries as its reverse type a five-branched plant, somewhat schematically rendered but conceptually the same as that which appears on the Seleucid tetradrachms. While such monogram associations cannot be definitive in themselves (below), they can lend substance to information provided by other means, such as the concurrence of symbol and type. The weight of numismatic evidence, in sum, appears to assure the attribution of the Seleucid coins in question to Seleucia on the Calycadnus. The attribution does not conflict with the associations which Bellinger noted between the monograms of several issues of Seleucus VI and autonomous tetradrachms of Elaeusa Sebaste (r.). As scholars have recognized for many years, such monograms must represent individuals who were (9) The exceptions at Tarsus and Mallus are noted in the table. Soli used a city symbol on all its issues, perhaps because its own coin type a seated Athena Nikephoros, sometimes a combined Athena-Tyche had broad Hellenic associations and was perceived as being not sufficiently specific to the city itself. (10) I am grateful to E. Levante for having shared his important Cilician material with me, and for permitting its use in this study. (1 1) l:l, AN and ^& appea. on both series : Bnr-r-rNcrn, p. 29 ; see SNG Leuante, "Elaeusa Sebaste," nos 824, 826, and 834-6. E. Levante has also called to my attention the fact that M appear on both local bronzes of Elaeusa (SNG Leuante, no. 828 ; SNG uon Aulock, no. 6090), and on a tetradrachm of Antiochus VI II of Seleucia (noted below, cat. no. 25). Tnr sBr,ruclD MINT oF SELEUCIA oN THE cALYCADNUS 81 mint. At least a number of moneyers would have moved location during the course of their careers, reestablishing themselves at different mints whose coins would have associated with the issuing carried their same personal mark as a matter of course. Such a transfer of mint personnel seems to have occurred in other areas of the Seleucid Empire as well as in Cilicia, and it is reasonable to assume that at least a few individuals connected with the late production of Seleucid coins at Seleucia would have moved to a nearby mint such as Elaeusa (12). lll. Sgmbol and TgPe The identity of the leaf or plant symbol which appears on Seleucia's coinage is not certain. Virtually without exception, it is shown on Seleucid issues from Alexander I Balas onwards and on a number of local bronzes as having five parts which include a central and two side elements, normally rendered V o. V, but at times, V as if the central element had a bud (see in particular the issues of Antiochus VIII and Antiochus Ik, nos. 20-27;26; and 27 inthe catalogue). It does not seem to be a flower and cannot be a palm branch, an example of which is represented quite differently on a coin of Antiochus VII (no. 16). E. Levante has suggested that it might represent the reeds which grow on the banks of the Calycadnus river. For the moment, there seems no better interpretation. The identity of the Athena figure on Seleucia's issues is less problematical. Representations of the goddess had been placed on coins of the Seleucid kings from the very beginning of the dynasty, generally as metaphors of power, political or religious association, or dynastic heritage, reflecting known images with broad Hellenic significance : the archaistic Athena Promachos; Pheidias' Athena parthenos; or a head or bust of the goddess wearing a Corinthian helmet, evidently modeled on the obverse type of staters struck under Alexander the Great (13). A full-figure Athena Nikephoros was placed on a special coin issue of Alexander I Balas struck at Antioch (below, p.85), and the type was later adopted by Antiochus VII, Antiochus VIII and Antiochus IX. Balas' Athena Nikephoros and the later Antiochene reflections of the goddess very likely represent an actual cult figure set up at the Seleucid capital, and not simply a conceptualized image. On the coins she is similar in dress and composition to the Athena which appeared some decades earlier on issues of Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia (220-163 B.C.), and may have been modeled on the latter (14). Her form and composition are also almost identical to those of the figure on the (12) Elaeusa's symbol was evidently the aplustre, which appears on the city's autonomous tetradrachms and in the outstretched hand of a goddess, perhaps an Aphrodite, on local bronzes (SNG Leuante, no.839). As SNG leuanle shows, are close monogram associations between coins struck at neighboring cities in Cilicia during the Hellenistic period numeruus, (13) The Seleucid Athena Promachos, which first appears on bronze issues of Seleucus I struck at Antioch (WSM' nos.g11-15), may have been a political reference to the type made widely known by Ptolemy I and used also on the : coins of Demetrius Poliorcetes and Pyrrhus; the progenitor of all was the Macedonian cult figure of Athena Alkidemos Hellenislic Earlg in Promachos Athena Archaistic The F{a.vor-ocx, p.55-72; C. M. 1950, 4, -\. B. Bnrrr, ANSMN, municipal Coinages, in AJA,84, 1980, p.41-50, discusses the early use of such archaistic images on coins. A strictly bronze coinage with an archaistic Athena Promachos was issued at an unknown mint in northern Syria by Alexander Balas: CS-g, nos.565-6. The Pheidian Athena first appears on Seleucid coins struck at Sardes (WSM, nos. 1368-1371), although the type was used in Cilicia in pre-hellenistic times on satrapal issues. Other early Seleucid Pheidian Athenas appear at Seleucia on the Tigris (ESM, nos. 195-198 and V[/SM 203A, issues of Antiochus II and Seleucus II). B. SruoNoru, The Coins 111) Babelon, cxxviii, notes the Cappadocian precedent. For the coins of Ariarathes IV, see of the Cappadocian Kings (Tgpos, II), Fribourg, 1977, p.23, no.4 and pl. I, nos' 11-12' A. HouonroN 82 coins of Seleucia. Yet the shield of the Seleucian Athena consistently lacks the Gorgoneion which normally appears on virtually all full-figure representations of the goddess. The absence of a small but important detail suggests that this figure, too, is a specific image of a cult statue, the Athena of Seleucia on the Calycadnus, which may have been set up at the city during the second century B.C. IY. Catalogue and Discussion In his monumental work on the coinages of the early Western Seleucid mints, E. T. Newell very tentatively attributed a small group of tetradrachms of Seleucus III and Antiochus III to Seleucia on the Calycadnus. In Newell's view, the horse protome symbol on these coins, and their general affinity of style and fabric to contemporaneous issues of both kings which he believed to have been struck at Tarsus, seemed indicative (15). The tetradrachms of Seleucus and Antiochus with a horse protome mag have been struck in Cilicia, but they are best placed at an unidentified mint and not at Seleucia on the Calycadnus. Instead, a series of coins of Antiochus III, Seleucus IV and Antiochus IV, represented by nos. 1-4, all of which are united by the presence of a five-branched plant on their reverses, are more likely candidates for this mint. While the symbol on these early Seleucid issues has upper-side elements which are filamentary and end in small dots, its similarity to the plant which appears on later issues of Alexander I Balas and his successors is enough to suggest that it is the same, and that the following four coins were therefore struck at Seleucia (16). Antiochus III (at Antioch 223-189 B.C.; at Seleucia on the Calycadnus, 197-189 B.C.) Obu. Diademed head of Antiochus r. ; dotted border. Reu. BA:ln ECI> ANTIOXOY Nude Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding amow and bow; in outer field, lAl above plant; in outer r. field, lrK; dotted border. 1. I. Tetradrachm A1 P1 J 16.79. London, BM, from the Pamphylia lgzT Hoard (cH, b, 1979, p. 15, no.43). The above tetradrachm is certainly of Citician origin. The obverse die was cut by an artist who was evidently associated with the engraver of a number of Antiochus' issues of Soli. Both may have been the same person (1?). A tetradrachm of Antiochus with an indeterminate symbol (apparently not a plant) and with the monograms l-f and Dl (: Fl ?), was struck from the same obverse as no. 1, recut to show the king,s portrait with light sideburns and longer curls behind the ear (fig. E.) (18). Despite the die link, the two coins may not have been issued by the same city, but may instead have been the product of two closely proximate western Cilician mints with different city symbols (1e). The lrK monogram of the (15) WSM, p.234-5, nos. 1330-1. The "Tarsus" issues of Seleucus III and Antiochus lll,WSM, nos. 1325-1329, have to Laodicea by O. Monxnor-r,r, A Greek Coin Hoard from Susiana, tn ActaArch,36, 196b, p.142-8. (16) G. Le RIorn and H. Srvnrc, De Clercq, p.32, express reservations about the interpretation of the symbol. (17) Compare the profile, tiered locks of hair above the diadem, and the arrangement of the diadem ends with CSE, been reattributed nos.517-520. (18) 16.80. MuM list 322, April 1971 no. 5. (19) O. Monxnor-r,t, The 'Behauiour' of Dies in the Hellenistic Period, in Proceeili.ngs of the 9lh International Congress of Numismalics, Berne, 1979, Luxembourg-Louvainla-Neuve, 1982, p.209-214, discusses the movement of obverse dies between Western Asia Minor cities in the early Hellenistic period. He here takes exception to the author's view (Ihe Seleucid Mint at Lampsacus, in ANS,LIN, 23, 1978, p. 59-68 ; see also CSE, p. 60) that during the reign of Antiochus Hierax, Lampsacus produced coinage for more than one city in a limited area. TgB SBT-BucID MINT oF SELEUCIA oN THE CALYCADNUS London coin which appears at Tarsus on issues of Antiochus II and Antiochus III, and on coins of the latter king struck at an uncertain mint in Cilicia, strongly suggesting that these three mints shared the same magistrate (20). The portrait of Antiochus III on the London coin has a distinctly receding hairline, and is to be dated after the king's return from his seven-year anabasis into the areas to the east of Babylonia (211-204 B.C.). It reasonably approximates the numismatic portraits which appear at Nisibis about 204B.C., but could not have been cut before Antiochus' seizure of western Cicilia in 197 B.C. 12t1. Seleucus IV (188/7 - 176/58.C.) Obu. Diademed head of Seleucus r.; dotted border. Reu. BA:ln EO: :EAEYKOY Nude Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; in outer field, AI above plant; in outer r. field, lrK. I. Tetradrachms 2. ,)- A1 P1 A2 P2 t 16.43. Numismatic Fine Arts 11, 8 Dec. 1982, no. 220. 117.18. Reu. in outer l. field, EP above plant; in outer r. field, S€< (?). The Hague. Although the above two coins of Seleucus IV are stylistically very different, they share in common the plant symbol. No. 2 is linked to the tetradrachm of Antiochus III, no. 1, by both its symbol and monogram, M. The latter also appears on Cilician issues of Seleucus IV attributed to Tarsus and Soli (22), with which Seleucia may have coordinated its coinage production. No coins of Seleucus' young son and successor, Antiochus, are known for Seleucia on the Calycadnus. Tarsus struck a very rare issue of this king, who reigned for only a few weeks in 175 B.C. ('). Antiochus IV (176/5 - 165/48.C.) Obu. Diademed head of Antiochus r.; fillet border. Reo. BA>IAECD ANTIOXOY Nude Apollo seated l. on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; in outer field, lsl above plant; in exergue, N ; in outer r. field, E. I. Tetradrachm 1. A1 P1 t 16.88. Paris, BN (Seyrig coll.). -\ntiochus IV permitted a number of cities of the Empire to produce bronze municipal coinages from 16918B.C. onward('n). In Cilicia, at least six such city mints were involved: Alexandria kat'Isson; -\egae ; Mopsus (Seleucia on the Pyramus) ; Hierapolis-Castabala; Adana (Antioch on the Sarus) and Tarsus (Antioch on the Cydnus) ('u). In addition, the three royal mints at Tarsus, Soli and as is t20; l.K at Tarsus : WSM, nos. 1309-11 (Antiochus II); WSM, p.222 and pl.49, C (Ptolemy III); IVSM, nos. 1262-69 \ntiochus III, "Tyre," reattributed to Tarsus by Morkhoim, Cilicia. M at an uncertain Cilician mint: W'SM, :':s. 1-131-3 ("Sardes", but see CSE, p.44). Under Antiochus III, Soli also shared with Tarsus a magistrate who signed , himself EA: CSE, p. 40. An affiliation may have existed among the Seleucid mints of Cilicia which brought them under the control of one mint, perhaps Tarsus, or a single group of mint officials. r21; The Nisibine portraits, which can be linked to the specific chronological event of Antiochus' passage through this :r,rrthern Mesopotamian City, are illustrated in A. HoucnroN, Tfte Elephants of Nisibls, in ANSMN, 31, 1986, p. 107121. r22) Tarsus : CSE, no. 466; Soli : M@nxnor-u, Cilicia, p.59; G. Lr Rtoer., Monnaies grecques ricemmenl acquises par Ie Cabinet de Paris, in .RN, s.6, 11, 1969, p. 13, no. 6. t23) Trvo tetradrachms from the same pair of dies are known in Paris and Berlin (DDR), Staatliche Museen : E. T. \:rr-rrr, ANSNNM, 73, p.11, no.28a ("Tyre", reattributed to Tarsus by Morkholm, Cilicia). r2-l) O. Nlonxuor-*r, The Monetarg Sgstem in the Seleucid Empire after 187 8.C., in Ancient Coins of the Graeco-Roman i\-orld. the Nickle Numismatic Papers, eds. W. Heckel and R. Sullivan, Calgary, 1984, p. 101. r25t O. l'I@nxuor-n, The Municipal Coinages with Portrail of Antiochus IV of Sgria, in Congresso Internazionale di \tmismatica, Roma 11-16 Setlembre 1961, vol. Atti, Rome, 1965, p.63. ll. 84 A. HoucHroN apparently indicated by the above coin in Paris, Seleucia on the Calycadnus, remained in operation. these Tarsus was the most prolific, striking silver coinage for Antiochus with moderate intensity during the early years of his reign ('?6). The relatively small number of coins recovered for Soli and Seleucia suggest that these mints had no more than a peripheral role in the production of money (2?). Antiochus' tetradrachms of Soli and Seleucia show portraits of the king which are different in detail but are related in concept, with close-cut hair and tightly framed features shown in relatively high relief on small flans, not unlike those which appear ,, tr,. king's first issues of Antioch e). If such early coins of Antiochus were the source of inspiration for his Cilician issues, the latter would Iikely have been struck quite early in the king's career, perhaps for only a limited period before their issuance was discontinued as Tarsus took up the production of silver for the province. The production of royal coinage continued at Tarsus under Antiochus V and Demetrius I, whose tetradrachms at this mint are marked by the presence of a wing and club on their reverses (rr). No issues of Antiochus are known for Seleucia on the calycadnus. Nor have any of Demetrius been recovered, although there is no evident reason why this city would not have struck coins for the latter king as did other mints in Cilicia and northern Syria towards the end of his reign (80). of Alexander I Balas (150149 _ 146/5 B.C.) Obu. Diademed head of Alexander r. ; fillet border. Reu' BA:lAECI> AAE=ANAPOY OEOIIATOPO> EYEPIETOY Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r- hand, spear with I. arm and resting l. hand on shield in inner L field,'plani aborre hp, aborre ; lE; in outer r. field, AE. Tetradrachm 5. A1 P1 tl6.95 Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum (inv. 20.537). If the attribution of the issues of Antiochus III, Seleucus IV and Antiochus IV listed above is not fully certain, that of the above tetradrachm seems secure. The new standing Athena Nikephoros reverse and the plant symbol here reduced to a small, three-pronged abstraction appear together on bronze coins which- carry the city's name and are definitive as to origin (below). The replacement of the standard Seleucid dynastic or personal reverse type with a cult figure of evidently local significance, marks a fundamentally important iconographic change at the mint of Seleucia' Yet within the broad context of Alexander;s coinage, particularly that of cilicia and northern Syria, it is not remarkable. It was preceded at Mallus by the appearance of the cult figure of Athena Magarsia on a late tetradrachm issue of Demetrius I. It was also paralleled both at Tarsus, where the figure of Sandan appears for the first time on Alexander's drachms, and at Soli, which (26) See, for example, CSE, nos.467-470. (27) ln addition to those which Morkholm lists for Soli in ctlicia, p. 5g, another example, struck from the same dies as his group 2a, is in the trays of the ANS. (28) o' Monxuor-n, studies in the coinage of Antiochus IV of syrta, copenhagen, 1963, p. b7:,,Lneat and elegant head, rather small in proportion to the available flans and worked in comparatively high relief.,, (29) Snvnrc, above n' 8, p' 263-5 and figs. 57a-c. Judging from the many known examples of Demetrius, tetradrachms of rarsus, struck from a minimum of nine obverse dies and with many reverse monogram and symbol combinations, his coinage at this city was extensive. (30) For example, at Soli (CSE, no.527 [: MoRxuor_nr, Citicia, p.60, no. 1b]), Mallus (Mallus, p.94, no. l), and several other mints in the area (cs-E, nos.551-3). The portraits on all these coins are distinguished by a flowing hairstyle, which did not appear on Demetrius' Antiochene coins until iate in his reign, in s.E. 160 (152/1 B.c.). This is the earliest likely date for Demetrius to have initiated an irregular expansion of royal coinage, using a relatively large number of mints in the north. The political reasons for this are not ce.iairr, although they may have been related to his struggle with Alexander Balas for control of the Empire. Tun snr,euclD MINT oF SELEUCIA oN THE CALYCADNUS struck tetradrachms whose reverses bore a seated Athena-Tyche holding a small Nike in her outstretched right hand (31). Seleucia Pieria also struck a special issue of tetradrachms with the head of Zeus and a thunderbolt (itself a local cult symbol) at the very outset of Alexander's reign (32), and soon after his arrival at the city Antioch produced an exceptional tetradrachm issue showing on its reverse a standing Athena Nikephoros, perhaps representing a cult statue set up by Alexander himself at the Seleucid capital for personal or political reasons (33). As putative son of Antiochus IV and pretender to the Seleucid throne, Alexander appears to have found his claim to the northern provinces of the Empire challenged virtually from the moment of his accession (34). Possibly in an attempt to strengthen his popular following in Cilicia he permitted certain cities to issue royal coinage with local reverse types. The appearance of Seleucia's own cult goddess on the city's royal coinage may be seen as the result of this political gesture. Demetrius II, First Reign (at Antioch, 14615-1448.C. ; at Seleucia on the calycadnus, 14615-144 B.C. ?) Obu. Diademed head of Demetrius r.; Fillet border. Reu. BA:1AE9> AHMHTPIOY OEOY NIKATOPOI Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with I. arm and resting I. hand on shield; in outer l. field, plant' Series I Tetradrachms Group 1 : Reu. in exergue, 6. A1 P1 7. , P2 8. D D X K. 115.86. Munich, Staatliche Museum. 116.86. CSE, no. 531 ; Jameson, no.2608; Naville 10, 15 Jun. 1925, no. 1181. 116.23. Paris, BN, De Clercq, no. 165. Group 2 ; Reu. in exergue, H X. 9. A1 P3 116.74. Paris, BN (929a). 10. r P4 115.95. London, BM. BMC, p.59, no. 15. Group 3 : Reu. it .*..grre, E X 11. A2 P5 116.89. Paris, BN. Snvnrc, Trdsors, p. 101, no.30.336. (31) Tarsus: D. H. Cox, 'The Coins,' in Emauations at Gdzlh KuIe Tarsus, vol.7, The Hellenistic and Roman Periods, ed. H. Goldman, Princeton, 1950; CSE, p.36, no.475. Soli: B.rnor-orv, no.792. The Solian cult figure appears first as a seated Athena only, on coins which Monxnor-n, Cilicia, p.61-2 believed were struck by Antiochus IV for Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia. No issues of Alexander attributable to Mallus have yet appeared. (32) A. HoucnroN, A Tetradrachm of Seleucia Pieria at the Gettg Museum, tn J. Paul Getlg Museum Journal, 10, 1982, p. 153-8. (33) Four such coins are known: a) BMC, p.52, no. 15; b) Numismatic Fine Arts 6,27 Feb. 1979, no.378; c) Leu 22,8May 1979,no. 163(nowPatoAlto,W.Wahlercollection)andd),E.Waddell list15(May, 1985),no. 11. Allare dated 164 S.E. (: 149/8 B.C.). The issue may have been intended to commemorate some event, perhaps the erection of a statue of Athena at the Seleucid capital soon after Alexander's seizure of the city the year before. For the date of Alexander's occupation of Antioch, see HoucnroN, n.32 above, p. 157-8. B.lerr-oN, cxxviii, suggests that the Antiochenes sought to imitate a similar statue of Athena set up by their Cappadocian neighbors to the north, but it is difficult to understand why Alexander would have so honored the goddess unless she held some special personal or political significance. (34) The political events surrounding Alexander's accession to the Seleucid throne and his struggle for the control of northern Syria are most recently discussed by the author, n. 32 above. O. Monxnolu, A Poslhumous Issue of Antiochus Iy of Sgria, in NC, 143, 1983, p. 57-63, comments on Alexander's use of visual and inscriptional references to Antiochus IV in an attempt to gain favor with Seleucid loyalists during his campaign against Demetrius I and, later, in the desperate final year oI his reign. A. HoucsroN 86 II Series Tetradrachms Obu. Border is dotted. Reu- BA>lAEc2: AHMHTP|9Y orAAAEnooy NIKATopor rype as no. 6. Group 4: Reu. in exergue, I'E ft l>1. 72. A3 P6 J16.30.London, BM. BMC, p.59, no.16. Oba. As no. 2. Reu. Inscription as no. 12. Nude Apollo seated 1. on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; in inner l. field, star above plant. Drachms 5: Reu. Group in 13. al p1 14. a2 p2 exergue, | t Al- lol (X?) l>1. 4.17. London market, 1986. 4.18. Reu. traces of star only; no plant. CSE, no.576. In an earlier publication I assigned to Demetrius' second reign coin no. 7, a tetradrachm of Series above (35). Since Demetrius' standard Attic weight silver struck prior to his seizure by the Parthians in 139 B.C. normally carries the epithet OIAAAEAOOY, which is absent on coins from his second period of rule' it was thought that no.7 (and therefore all coins of Series I) was issued following the king's return from the east. Considerable evidence now exists, however, to indicate that OIAAAEAOOY was dropped from Demetrius' coinage before the beginning of his parthian campaign (36), although this could not have occurued before S.E. 172 (141-140 B.C.), the date of north a II, Syrian tetradrachm which retains the epithet ("). No. 7 , and the other coins listed above, are in any event considered to have been struck during Demetrius'first reign. The short Series II, it should be noted, no longer carries the epithet OEOY. This reference to Demetrius' deification appears on all his Attic weight silver struck prior to 144P .C., when it was discontinued, perhaps as a result of Tryphon's seizure of Antioch in that year lezt'r'r. The chronology of the above coins is important in helping to reconstruct the collapse of Demetrius, political authority in the Seleucid west. The historical sources and dated coins of the period indicate clearly that Tryphon's revolt began at Apamea in the summer of 1448.C., and then spread to other areas in the western provinces of the Empire ("). Acting in the name of Antiochus VI, the young son of Alexander Balas (and after his murder of the child in 142 B.C., on his own authority), Tryphon soon succeeded in controlling Antioch, as well as important areas of Phoenicia (se). Demetrius conti(35) CSE, no.531 ("Demetrius II - Second Reign,,). (36) See CSE, nos. 567-8, inscribed BA:lnEO: AHMHTPIOY NIKATOPO> only, which were likely struck late in Demetrius'first reign; CSE, nos.580-1, with the same inscription, given by the author to Demetrius, second reign but which were probably struck at a north Syrian or Mesopotamian mint during the king's first period of rule; and Demetrius' tetradrachms and bronzes with a short beard, attributed by the author to Seleucia on the Tieris (cs_E, nos. 1014-19), but which have been credibly reattributed to Nisibis by W. Moone, The Diuine Couple of Demetrius II, Nicator and His Coinage al Nislbis, in,4NSMN,31, 1986, p.125-143. I wish to thank Mr. Moore for his thorightfui observations on the chronology and origin of these issues. (37) CSE, no.411; see O. Monxnortr, SomeWeslern Seleucid Colns, in 1N"/,3, 1965/6, p.g-14, esp. p.9-11. (37 bis) Since the completion of this article evidently placing it betaeen Series I and II, tetradrachm of Demetrius has appeared with monograms linking it to and and with the epithets OEOY OI^AAEAOOY NIKATOpOI. White the new a coin thus requires a revision of the series, it does not change the historical conclusions given in this article. A note on lhe coin will be forLhcoming. (38) Diodorus Siculus 33,9. H. Srvnrc, Notes on Sgrian Coins, (/NSNNM, 119), New york, 1950, p.9ff., discusses the initiation of Tryphon's coinage at various mints. (39) Sevnrc, above n. 38 ; Monxnor-u, above n. 37, p. I ; Mallus, p. 100, n. 20. See also the coins of Antiochus VI of Ake Ptolemais published by G. Lr Rroan, [Jn Trdsor de monnaies sileucides trouui dans le Hauran en 1929 ou 1gg0: Antiochus VI d Ptolemais, in Sludies in Honor of Leo Mililenberg, p.165_169. THs ScI-BuCID MINT OF SELEUCIA ON THE CALYCADNUS 87 nued to hold Sidon and Tyre, and areas of the north Syrian coast, including Seleucia Pieria. The coins also indicate clearly that he retained control of Tarsus and Mallus for a short period. The rare coins of Antiochus VI struck at these two cities, and coins of Tryphon himself issued at Mallus (below) are clear that at some point Demetrius lost control of the central Cilician plain about 1448.C., when Tryphon made an expedition to Cilicia to weaken Demetrius'hold on the province, and is reported to have set up a pirate base farther to the west at Korakesion 1ao;. The coins of Seleucia on the Calycadnus are clear that he tost this western Cilician city, too. After the issuance of the coins of Series II, the mint at Seleucia seems to have been closed, striking no further coinage until the reign of Antiochus VII (below). Elsewhere in Cilicia, Tarsus and Mallus struck royal silver for Demetrius before they were seized by Tryphon's forces, as we have seen. Soli issued tetradrachms of Demetrius with the same AthenaTyche reverses that had appeared there under Alexander Balas, and a drachm with the standard dynastic reverse type of a seated Apollo. Mopsus initiated a rare tetradrachm issue, also with a seated Apollo reverse (a1). Demetrius' coins of Soli and Mopsus are not dated, and it is not certain how long he may have held these two cities. No coins of Seleucia are known for Antiochus VI or Tryphon, whose authority appears to have been limited to central Cilicia and Korakesion in the west (above). Issues of Antiochus VI were struck at Tarsus and Mallus (42), and drachms with Tryphon's personal reverse type of a spiked Macedonian helmet have been assigned to Mallus with some uncertainty ("). No other Cilician coinage has been attributed to either ruler. Antiochus VII (138-129 B.C.) Obu. Diademed head of Antiochus r. ; fillet border. Reu. BA:IAEO> ANTIOXOY EYEPI-ETOY Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with l. arm and resting l. hand on shield; in outer l. field, plant. Tetradrachms 116.70. Reu.: 15. A1 P1 16. D P2 17. I P3 in inner l. field, owl; in exergue, IEI AI. Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet. SNG Cop Syrla, no.342; O. Monr<nor,u, Two Seleucid Coin Notes, ln NC, s.6' 17. 1957. p. 9. no. 3. in inner l. field, owl, palm branch behind shoulder, above Al ; in exergue, Reu..' 117.20. lEl and 8f CSE, no.530. 117.13. Reu.: in'inner I. field, leafy branch; exergue symbols or monograms, flan. Private U. S. collection. if any, off The remaining evidence of the coinage of Antiochus VII at Seleucia is very scant. The ahove issue appears to have been quite short-lived, but when it was struck is quite uncertain. While the internal chronology of the series is provided by the progressive wear visible on its single known obverse die, the coins are not linked by monograms or symbols to the preceding issues of Demetrius II or later ones of Antiochus VIII. The portrait, which does not resemble that of Antiochus on any other coin issue, may indicate the date of the series. Instead of the king's usual slightly hooked-nosed image, one is shown a rather romantic vision of a youth with soft, full cheeks, a virtually straight profile and hair which falls backward from the brow in waves, not unlike that which appears on the later (40) Strabo, XIV, 5, 2, p.668. (41) Tarsus: M. TnonpsoN, Some Noteworthg Greek Accessions, in ,41[SMN, 12, 1966, p. 17, no.23 (a unique drachm); Mallus : Mallus, p.94, nos. 2-7 (tetradrachms); Soli: CS-E, nos. 528-9 (tetradrachms); Monxsor-u, Cilicio, p.60, no. Ia (drachm). Nlopsus: CS-E, no. 504 (tetradrachm), now in New York, ANS. (42) Tarsus: J. A. Srrcan, An Llnpublished Drachm of Antiochus V1, in NC, s.7,72, 1972, p.303; and a tetradrachm, Mallus, p. 99, n. 16. Mallus : Mallus, p. 94-95, nos. 8 and 9. (43) Mallus, p.95, nos. 10 and 11, and p. 99, n. 17. 88 A. HoucnroN portraits of Demetrius I, Antiochus' own father (aa). The head is evidenly an invention of the mint's die engraver, and nos' 15-17 may therefore have been struck very early in the king,s career, before his features were known to the artist. In addition to the tetradrachms of Seleucia, Cilician issues of Antiochus are known for Tarsus, which as the province's principal mint struck a significant coinage using both standard dynastic and local reverses, and at Soli, where the tetradrachm type reverted from a seated Athena-Tyche to an apparently unsyncretized,Athena' rendered i.r Hellenistic style and dress(a5). "o.ri"-porary Mallus issued both tetradrachms and drachms for Antioct us eg. with the reassignment of nos. 9-14 Lo D.emetrius' first reign, no coins of this king remain to be given to Seleucia during his second period of rule. Nor are"issues of Seleucia yet known to have been struck by Alexander Zabinas, a putative son of Alexander Balas who evicted Demetrius from Antioch and seized control of various areas of the Syrian north, as well as coele-Syria, Sidon in Phoenicia, and the city of Ascalon (a?). Elsewhere in cilicia, Tarsus continued to produce tetradrachms and drachms in large quantity for Demetrius, and a smaller but still significant coinage for Zabinas (as). Mallus issued tetradrachms and drachms for Demetrius, bui no coinage is tnown for Zabinas at this mint (ae). No Seleucid issues of this period are known for-Soli, ind it upf"u., that the production of royal coinage at that mint may have stopped entirely. zabinas rnuy nur" struck tetradrachms at other cities in Cilicia, although at which is not certain (so). Antiochus vIII Grypus (12110 - 96/5 B.c.; First Reign at Seleucia on the calycadnus, 12llo - c.1l4l18 B.C.) ? Diademed head of Antiochus r. ; fillet border. BA:lnEo: ANTIoxoy EII|oANoy> Athena standing Nike with r. hand, spear with l. arm and resting l. hand on shield; in outer i. fietd", 1.,-holding ptant. Tetradrachms Obu. Reu. Group 1 : Reu. in exergue, ZFlt ZH 18. A1 P1 \ 15.41. CSE, no. 532. 19. D P2 116.50. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. Group 2: Reu. in exergue, R Ay 20' A2 p3 116.45. New york, ANS. Ler 22, g May 1979, no. 166. CSE. no. 533. (44) Above, n.30. (45) Tarsus: cs-o' nos'.476-9; Snnnrc, Trisors, p. 100, nos.30.326-30.3s0. The system of parallel issues at rarsus was continued under Demetrius II, second reign: HoucHroN, n.48, below. Soli: Lr RroEn, above n.22, p.13, no.7, a tetradrachm; and a drachm in the British Museum with a seated ryche on the reverse, notin BMC. (46) MaIIus' p' 95' nos' 12-16a' other mints in the area may have struck a number of the Attic weight tetradrachms of Antiochus which have appeared from time to time in northern syrian rroaras (e.g., Savnrc, Trisors,p. gg, nos. 30.16930'172' assigned hv Newell to Damascus, but whose_attribution, Seyrig notes, is not firm; also Savnrc, 1.risors, p.707, nos.30. 338-341, uncertain issues, also of Attic weight). (47) Most scholars have credited the circumstant-ial account of Justin 39.1.4-6, that Zabinas was the adopted son of Antiochus vII' Monxuor-n, above n. 34., p. 62, has argued persuasively, however, that he claimed to be a son of Alexander Balas, and therefore a grandson of Antiochus IV. (48) A' HoucsroN' The second Reign of Demetrius II of sgria at rarsus,in ANSM{ 24, 1g7g,p. 111-16, discusses the parallel use at rarsus of both "standard" (Zeus Nikephoros reverse) *i.rrg", and issues with ihe reverse type of on a winged lion' Zabinas' issues of rarsus include tet.ad.achr,rs and drachms, apparentry only of the !]ffi| ii.X:l'"u (49) Mallus, p. 96, nos. 17-22. (50) csE, nos'582-3, for example, share a monogram,tnP, which appears on Tarsian issues of Demetrius II, second reign' and their double monogram in the outer lett tieta reflects r'.orr.rilon in use at rarsus from the reign of Antiochus vII' other tetradrachms of Zabinas, such as Srvnrc, Trisors,p. tot, .ro..30.342-80.849, cannot be placed at known mints, but tend to appear in northern Syria; some may have been issued by cities in cilicia. 89 THs SOI-BUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA ON THE CALYCADNUS AFI Group 3 : Reu. in exergue, 21. A3 P4 Group 4: AP' and N. WeccoNen, TheRobertF' 116.56. NewYork, ANS (Kelley coll.). H. TnoxsLL 53' no' p' 40, Kelleg Bequasl, ln ANSMAT, 23, 1978, Reu. in exergue, X AP. 22. A3 P5 115,74. Paris, BN (Seyrig coll.). Naville 10' 15 Jun. i925, no. 23.A4P6116'2s.Reu.monogramsarerenderedxAP.PrivateU.S.collection. r,o' 243' i+. ) )) 116.34. Paris, BN (De Clercq coll')' De Clercq, 1438. Group 5'. Reu. 25. A5 P7 Group 6: it ,G lrl(' (DDR), Staatliche Museen. Bnr,r,rNcon, p.27; NZ' 1901, Berlin 116.76. exergue, pl. 1, no. Reu. in exergue, 26. A6 P8 lxF p' 4' no' I and 2. la{' I\6.27. Berlin (DDR), Staatliche Museen' VIII Grypus is marked by The known coinage of Seleucia struck prior to the reign of Antiochus by monogram' style discontinuity. The issues of a particular king often have no evident connection of coins is known series a where or fabric, with the coinage of rulers who preceded or followed' Even which can help establish a coherent (as in the case of Demetrius II, first reign), there are few die links of Grypus' which has only one internal chronology. The same is generally true for the known coinage obverse die shared by two different monogram groups' placement of their monograms' The broad division here proposed for Grypus' coins is based on the in the inner left field' on nos. 18-26, they are in the exergue of the reverse; on nos' 28-30, they are II, first reign, and Antiochus The exergue monogram convention was used on the issues of Demetrius thelatercoinsof vll,aswellasontheBrusselscoinof cyzicenus, no.2l ,butitappearsonnoneof are' therefore' 18-26 Nos' no.31. Seleucus vI with the exception of the anomalous tetradrachm, issue; nos' 28-30 likely earlier issues of Grypus, which were then followed by Cyzicenus' tetradrachm relationship between nos'21' were struck at a later point in Grypus', career. The very close stylistic presence of AF on both 23 and 28 (the dies of all were evidently cut by the same hand), and the and not after Grypus' first reign' series, may indicate that the change of convention occurred during in the reverse exergue monograms yet the fact that the unique tetradrachm of cyzicenus also has its Grypus' authority in Seleucia' suggests that the change occurred following the reestablishment of the arrangement after Cyzicenus' first and perhaps only occupation of the city (51)' Nevertheless, reign u series' < second I and given for these coins, including their division into suggested < first reign more material becomes should be considered tentative. It will almost certainly require revision as known (52). issues of Seleucia, Tarsus struck coinage for Grypus during his first reign. His to any other Mallus may also have been struck then. No coins of Grypus have been attributed In addition to Cilician mint (53). of Arts and Sciences, 38' Academg (s1) A. R. BBr-r-rNcBn , The Enit of the Seleucirls, in Transactions of the Connecticut of the perlod' history complex very the of overview best the remains p.87-94, esp. p.55-102, June, 1949, of the coin dies has identification sequential (52) In view oI the uncertain chronology of the coins of Antiochus VIII, been continued into his later ("second reign") series' and I; to this series should be (53) Cox, above n.31, p.56, notes that Grypus',first reign coins of Tarsus carry Fl perhaps the first coin given to his third (A added the tetradrachm she assigns to his second reign (with I and lG), and and lC). Mallus: Mallus, p. 96, nos. 23-4. A. HoucnroN 90 Antiochus 27. IX Cyzicenus (114B.C. - 95B.C.; at Seleucia on the Calycadnus, 114B.C. - 112B.C.?) Obu. Diademed head of Antiochus r. ; fillet border. Reu. BA>IAEO: ANTIOXOY OIAOIIATOPOI Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with l. arm and resting l. hand on shield ; in outer l. field, plant; in exergue, Tl H. Tetradrachm A1 P1 116.65. Brussels. P. Nes:rrn, La Collection Lucien de Hirsch, Brussels, 1959, no. 1723. Naster has proposed that the above tetradrachm was issued at the very end of Cyzicenus' reign, in but the date is incompatible with both the specific characteristics of the coin and the of the mint of Seleucia itself. chronology The tetradrachm's obverse shows a diademed young man with wide eyes and a slightly upturned nose. His hair, cut short above the brow, is arranged in a haphazard manner at the crown of the head and falls in long locks at the nape of the neck. The cheeks are full but not fleshy; there is no jowl. This brilliant representation of a youth, one of the finest known of the late Hellenistic period, bears little resemblance to any other coin portraits of Cyzicenus, or indeed those of any other Seleucid 96-5 B.C., (54) ruler (55). The coin's reverse shows a carefully executed version of the now standard Athena Nikephoros, a little victory in her right hand stretching upward to offer the goddess a wreath. To the left is the leaf symbol, in the exergue two monograms. The placement of the latter, as has been noted, recalls a convention used on issues of Seleucia struck during the first reign of Demetrius II and that of Antiochus VII, and also on Antiochus VIII Grypus'early issues of this mint (nos. i8-26). No.27 was probably struck shortly after Cyzicenus'seizure of Cilicia in 114B.C., and not at the end of his life (uu). No regular coinage of Cyzicenus is known for this city, and the coin may have been a special issue meant to commemorate an event, perhaps the occupation by Cyzicenus' forces of the city itself. The unusual portrait can be explained as a generic image of a youthful king who never personally appeared at the city, and whose true features were not known to the accomplished artist who cut the coin's dies (5?). The extraordinarily prolific coinage of Seleucus VI at Seleucia, which is unlikely to have been issued in less than three or four years (below), makes the suggested date of 9695 B.C. improbable for the Brussels coin, and lends support to the likelihood that it was struck at an earlier point (58). How long Cyzicenus held Seleucia is not known. His first reign at Antioch ended in the summer of 112B.C. and his first occupation of Cilicia, including Seleucia on the Calycadnus, may not have Iasted much longer (5e). Tarsus almost certainly struck money for Cyzicenus soon after his seizure of (54) N.tsren, above n. 7. (55) Apparently comparing the Brussels coin with the later issue of Antiochus IX of Antioch, Ake-Ptoiemais and, perhaps, Tarsus, Ne.srrn, above n.7, p. 15, saw a resemblance between it and other beardless portraits of the king. Close examination, however, indicates that these are intended images of an older man, with shaven face but heavy features, which bear little relationship to no.25, above. For a discussion of the evolution of Antiochus' portrait, see A. HoucnroN, ?lre Portratt of Antiochus IX, in Antike Kunsl, 7984, p. 123-128. (56) The date is based on the assumption that Cyzicenus seized Cilicia first, then Antioch, which fell before October 114 B.C.: HoucuroN, n.55 above, p.125, differs with Bar-rrNcrn, n.52 above, on the sequence. (57) Cyzicenus' first coins of Tarsus show a light beard, a feature which need not have been known to the engraver of no.25. (58) The weight of the Brusseis tetradrachm provides no particular indication of its chronology. Although the standard weight of Attic tetradrachms struck at Antioch was reduced in 105B.C. from about 16.8 gm to about 16.3gm. (Monxnorn, above n.24, p.96), Seleucia did not conform to the general adjustment of the standard. (59) Berr"rNcon,n.51 above,p.68and87,followsCox,aboven.31,p.52-4, regardingtheseveralreignsof Grypus and Cyzicenus at Tarsus. The evidence supporting Cox's view is not clear, however, and a reasonably accurate chronology of these kings' occupation of Cilicia must await a die study of their Tarsus issues. ii. Tue snr-BucrD MINT oF sELEUCIA oN THE cALycADNUS 91 that city, and his rare coins of Mallus may have been issued then, too (uo). An exceptional dated issue of Mopsus, struck by Cyzicenus in S.E. 205 (108/7 B.C.), indicates either that he was able to retain control of this city, or that about the time he was expelled from Antioch for a second time, he reoccupied it for at least a short, second period of rule (61). Antiochus VIII Grypus (121/0 B. C. - 95 B.C. ; Second Reign at Seleucia on the Calycadnus, after 112 B.C. - c. 98 B.C. ?) Obu. Diademed head of Antiochus r. ; fillet border. Reu. BA:IAEA> ANTIOXOY EITIOANOY: Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with I. arm and resting l. hand on shield; in outer l. field, plant. Tetradrachms in inner l. field, written sideways, dK. 28. L7 Pg 116.47. New York, ANS. BBTTTNGER, p.27 artd pI.5, 29. r P10 \ 15.83. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. Group 8 : Reu. in inner 1. field, written sideways, EP AP. 7: Group Reu. 30. A8 P11 no. 1. 116.05. Overstruck on indeterminate undertype. Paris, BN (Seyrig coll.: 1973.1.432). Nos. 28-30 are distinguished by the position of their reverse monograms, which relates them more closely to the following coinage of Seleucus VI than to issues struck from the reign of Demetrius II onward. How long Grypus' second reign at Seleucia may have lasted is unknown. Seleucus VI lor'; ; at Seleucia on the Calycadnus, c. 98-94 B'C. ?) Obu. Diademed head of Seleucus r.; fillet border. Reu. BA:lnEO: :EAEYKOY EIIOANOY: NIKATOPO: Athena standing 1., holding Nike with r. hand, spear with L arm and resting l. hand on shield; in outer I. field, plant. (at Antioch, 95-94 B.C. Tetradrachms Serles 1 (owl sgmbol; monograms Group 1: Reu.: in inner in erergue) l. field, owl;in exergue, l..P (orlf) and FP. 31. A1 P1 116.04. London, BM. BMC, p. 95, no.2. (uarious, without AN, AAE, l:l) II Group 2: Reo.: in inner I. field, Rl AflOA (Bellinger, p.27, group 2). 32. L2 P2 \ 15.25. Paris, BN. B,teeI-oN, no. 1515 (weight recorded 33. r P3 114.83. London, BM. Series 3: Group Reu.: in inner 34. A3 P4 as 15.30). l. lield nOAnO (nO AnO?). Munich, Staatliche Miinzsammlung. 114.01. (60) Mallus, p.96, nos. 25-6. (61) G. K. JnNr<rNs, above n. 8, p. 19-21. A second example, struck from the same obverse die, can be found in NFA 2,25 Mar.1976, no.289. The fact that Seleucus VI used Seleucia as his base of operations (below), may indicate that Cyzicenus held authority in central Cilicia immediately after Grypus' death(61a) To the catalogue of Seleucus' issues given here (nos. 31-146) the following coins should be added: Series I Group I 5 A5 A5 A5 A10 New New New New P P P P 14.74. London Market, 1987. 74.79. Giessener Miinzhandlung (Munich) 36, 8 Apr' 14.55. Jerusalem, A. Spaer coll. 14.51. Washington, Smithsonian Institution. 1987, 288. A. HoucnroN 92 Group 4: ReD.; in inner l. field, Annl (An nl ?). 35. A4 P5 114.00. Paris, BN (R2351). Group 5; ReD.: in inner L field, fi, ZH leeUinger, p. 27, group 3) 36. A5 P6 \ 13.50. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. MuM List 469 (Aug. 19g4), no.40. 37. D P7 115.77. SNG Cop Syrla, no.418. 38. r P8 Location unknown (cast in London, BM). 39. r P9 15.75. Naville 10, 15 Jun 1925, no.1507; Egger 46, 1r May lgl4, no.2473. 40. A5a P6 114.31. Recut obverse die. New York, ANS. Walcher de Moltheim, no. 3067. Bellinger, pI.5, no.2. Pg v15.07. Paris, BN. Babelon, no. 1517. ) 14.56. The Hague. 43. P10 115.66. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no.6. 44. P1l 116.21. London, BM. BMC p.95, no.4. 45. Pl2 115.56. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. 46. A10 P13 113.86. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. Series III (ullh AN) Group 6: Reu.: in inner 1. field, t AN. 47. A11 P14 115.45. CSE, no. 536. 48. A12 P15 f15.07. Paris, BN SNG Delepiete, rro. 2973 49. r P16 115.33. Paris, BN (R2267) 50. A13 P17 115.33. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. Group 7: Rerr. in inner L field, il AN (BrrullcER, p. 28, group 10). 51. A14 P18 115.88. New York, ANS. Barr,rNcon, pI.5, no.6. 47. 42. A6 A7 A8 r A9 Group 8 : Reu.; in inner l. field, trN AN 52. A15 P19 115.35. CSE, no.538. Group 9: Reu.: in inner I. field, EY AN. 53. A.15a P20 115.44. Recut obverse die. London 54. r P21 115.70. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. Group 10:Reu.: in inner l. field, A AN. 55. A16 56. r P22 P23 market, 1984. 116.36. Private U.S. collection. 115.70. Paris, BN (R2269). Group 11 '. Reu.: in inner l. field, & ,qN. L17 P24 116.26. London, BM. JeNxrNs, NC, s.6, 19, 1959, p.44, no.26. 58. t P25 116.45. Private U.S. collection. 57. Series IV Group 12 A15 P19 A21 New P A25 New P A26 New P Group 15.25. G. Hirsch, 2 Dec. 15.99. 15.47. 1968, 208. Busso Peus list, May 1975, 316. Oxford, Ashmolean Museum. Sothebv's 2 Oct. 1987. 560. 13 A33 P79 15.71. Oxford, Ashmolean Museum. New A New P 14.32. G. Hirsch, 8 Mar. 1971, 292. Ungrouped (no die information) 15.55. Turin. G. FeeRerrt et al., Regio Museo di Torino, 15.54. Turin. Fabretti (above), 4818. Monete Greche, Turin, 1883, 4817. "New A" and "New P" indicate dies which are different from numbered dies in the catalogue; all "New p,,tlies ciiffer from each other as well. The discussion of die frequencies, metrology and mint production in the text incorporates the new material in this note. Tnn spr,euclD MINT oF sELEUCIA oN THE Series 93 cALYCADNUS IV (with At\E, l:D f') Group 12: Reu.: in inner I. field, AE l:l (Ber,I-tNcnn, p.28, group 6) 59. A1 1 P26 116.03. Reu.: the form of the monogram is AE lEl. Berlin, (DDR), Staatliche Museen. 60. Al8 P27 I15.74. Munich, Staatliche Miinzsammlung. 61. ,> P28 115.36. Stockholm, Kungl. Myntkabinettet. Naville 10, 15 Jun. 1925, no. 1505. New York market, 1972. 62. A19 P29 63. ,r P30 115.76. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no.4. 64. A20 P31 115.55. Leningrad, State Hermitage Museum. Vorcr, p.170, no.73465. A27 P32 115.99. Paris, BN (inv. Y613). 66. I P33 115.62. London, BM. BMC, p. 95, no.3 (monogram recorded as NIEI). BrnrNcnn, p.28, group 7. 67. r P34 112.80. Busso Peus 315,28 Apr. 1986, no.164; Busso Peus 314,3 Oct. 1985, no.170. 68. r P35 115.93. London, BM. Sotheby's, 15 Jun. 1896 (Bunbury coll.), no. 584. 69. ,r P36 115.77. New York, ANS (Kelley Coll.) Kricheldorf 4, 7 Oct. 1957, no.377. 70. A22 P37 115.93. CSE, no.535; K. Kress 144, 22 Jrl. 1968, no.207. 71. u P38 116.01. Copenhagen. SNG Cop Syria, no.417 (monograms recorded as AEIEI). 72. ,r P39 115.91. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection (ex Six coll.). 73. A23 P40 15.76. The Hague. 74. L24 P41 115.74. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. 75. r P42 16.14. Sternberg 8, 16 Nov. 1978, no.196. Josiane Vedrines (Paris), 21 Dec. 1982, no. 69. 76. r P43 77. r P44 115.54. Stockholm, Kungl. Myntkabinettet (Smith, no. 394). E. Gans, 19 Apr. 1960 (Bauer Coll.), no.433. 78. ,r P45 79. ,> P46 15.1. K. Kress 148,2l Jul. 1969, no.196. 80. L25 P47 15.83. Santamaria, 12 Oct. 1949 (Magnaguti Coll.), no. 93; Miinzhandlung Basel 10, 15 Mar. 1938, no.385. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. D P48 P49 P50 )) P51 )) P52 D D P53 A26 P54 A27 P55 A28 P56 ) 115.33. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. 115.80. Aberdeen, Marischal College. S.l{G Nerunham DaDis, vol. 1, pt. 2, no. 445. I15.17. Paris, BN. B.terroN, no. 1516. 115.82. New York, ANS. Naville 10, 15 Jun. 1925, no. 1506. Borr-rNcrn, pl. 5, no. 3. 114.87. Istanbul, Archaeological Museum, inv. no. 10597. 115.99. Oxford, Ashmolean Museum. 15.48. MuM List 239, Jan. 1964, no. 23. 115.80. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. 115.78. Reu.: AE lEl. Glendining,2l Feb. 1961 (Lockett Coll.), no.2643;Naville 15 Jun. 1925, no. 1502. Brr,r.rNGER, p. 28, group 4. Group 13: Reu.: in inner I. field, AnE, Al+ (Ber-r-rNorn, p.28, group 9) m. L21 P57 115.89. London, BM. Sotheby's, 15 Jun. 1896 (Bunbury coll.), no.583. 91. ,r P85 115.60. London, BM. 52. r P59 115.50. New York, ANS. BsrrrNcrn, pl. 5, no. 5 (incorrectly recorded as Naville no. 1503 : see below, A27a - P65, 15.47). 93. ) 115.40. New York, ANS. 10, 10, )) 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. D P60 ) P61 D P62 D D )) ) P63 P64 Graf Klenau, 2 Mar. 1974, no.F2l46. 15.0. Dombrowski 63, Apr. 1975, no. 127 115.48. Athens, National Museum. ; Ball 6, 9 Feb. 1932, no.398. 114.82. Leningrad, State Hermitage Museum. VoIor, p. 170, no.731. 115.44. Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum. McClean 3, p.345, no. 9353. 116.03. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. (62) The monogram letters of Series IV issues are frequently imprecisely inscribed, and are generally written in a continuous line, without a break. Scholars (including this author) have tended to catalogue examples of this series as having a single monogram element rather than two, as now seems to have been intended. Monograms which give the greatest difficulty of interpretation are those whose separate elements are AAE, lEl, and Al{. A. HoucnroN 94 100. A21a P65 115.47. Recut obverse die. New York, ANS. Naville 10, 15 Jun. 1925, no. 1503. 101. A22 P66 16.06. The Hague. 102. L23 r Glasgow, Coats coll. 3729 (cast in London, BM) 103. I P67 K. Kress 184, 9 Nov. 1982, no. 651 ; K. Kress 182, 23 Mar. 1982, no. 896. 104. I P68 K. Kress 188, 11 Oct. 1984, no.394; K. Kress 782,23 Mar. 1g82, no.898. 105. A23aP69 115.55. Recut obverse die. Paris, BN. BeesroN, no. 1514. 106. u P70 115.59. Munich, Staatliche Mtinzsammlung. 107. A29 P7l European market, 1968 (ex De Clercq coll.). 108. u P72 K. Kress 182, 23 Mar. 1982, no.897. 109. A30 P73 v15.80. Leningrad, State Hermitage Museum. Vorcr, p. 170, no.732. Schlessinger 13, 14 Feb. 1935, no.1484. 110. A31 P74 115.27. CSE, no.537. 111. u P75 114.05. Palo Alto, W. Wahler collection. 112. L32 P76 15.84. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no. 1. 113. r P77 K. Kress 182, 23 Mar. 1982, no.899. 114. r u US market, 1985. 115. r> P78 15.43. Superior Stamp and coin, 7 Dec. 1972, no.749. Jameson, no. 1755. 116. r P79 115.85. Munich, Staatliche Mtinzsammlung. ll7. D P80 116.04. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. 118. A33 P81 v15.82. Brussels. De Hirsch, no.1725. 119. r ) 115.71. Oxford, Ashmolean Museum. ,r 120. t New Haven, Yale University Art Museum. Bellrucon, pl. 5, no.4. l2l. r P82 115.45. Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum. SNG Fitz, no. 5814. 122. D P83 114.22. London, BM. 123. r P84 115.40. A. Cahn 77, 14 Oct. 1931, no.552. 124. t P85 113.83. Istanbul, Archaeological Museum, inv. no. 10598. 125. t> P86 K. Kress 1.82, 23 Mar. 1982, no.900. 126. A34 P87 16.23. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no. 2. 127. r P88 115.28. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. Group 14 Reu.: in inner l. field, Ae l>l (no. 128) or AOH lEl (nos.129-130). 128. A35 P89 Location unknown (cast in New York, ANS). 129. A36 P90 115.50. Leu 33, May, 1983, no.425. u P91 Art 38, no. 128. Group 15: Reu.: in inner L field, nO l:l (Brrrrxcan, p.28, group 130. 131. A36 132. t 133. A37 P92 ,r P93 Hesperia 8). 115.20. Superior Stamp and Coin, 3 Jun. 1985, no.2212. J16.02. Palo Alto, W. Wahler collection. 116.27. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no.5. Group 16: Reu.: in inner l. field, AIV l>l (BrrrrNcrn, p.28, group 5) 134. A38 P94 15.87. A. Hess 253, 8 Mar. 1983, no.266; Naville 10, 15 Jun. 1925, no.1504; Sotheby's, 23 Mar. 1896 (Montagu coll.), no.726. Series V Group 17: Reu.: in inner 1. field, hl AP (BrnrNGER, p.27, group 1) 135. AG P95 16.24. The Hague. 136. A18 P96 115.30. Leningrad, State Hermitage Museum. Vorcr, p.lZ0, no.733. Series V I (inegular) Group 18: Reu.: in inner l. field, eE H. 137. A39 P97 v 16.28. CSE, no. 534; K. Kress 144, 22 Jul. 1968, no. Group 19: Reu.'. in inner l. field, Af n. 138. A39 P98 115.48. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. 205. InB snr-BucrD MrNT oF Group 20: Reu.: in inner 139. A40 140. ) P99 sELEUCTA l. field, AIO.T(AH (?) oN THE cAL.lrcADNUS (no.139) or AlOf(nH (?) 95 (no.1a0). 114.35. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. 114.15. Glasgow, Hunterian Museum. Hunter 3, p. 108, no. 2. P100 Group 21 : Reu.: in inner l. field, ZH>IPA 141. A41 P101 116.26. Private U.S. collection. Group 22: Reu.: in inner l. field, AOPSH. 142. L41 P102 115.34. Jerusalem, A. Spaer collection. Group 23 143. A42 Reu.: in inner l. field, XAPIAIA. P103 115.19. Berlin, Staatliche Museen. 144. L43 P104 ,v 12.87. Obv. counterstamp: Head of Artemis (?) to l. within oval incuse. Adana Museum. Group 24: Reu.: in inner l. field, :HNAf (?). 145. A44 P105 113.87. Paris, BN (R2268). P106 146. r Location unknown (cast in London, BM). Seleucus VI: the Sequence of Issues and Mint Production The above catalogue expands Bellinger's list of thirty-two coins of Seleucus VI to one hundred and twenty-eight. While a broader view of this king's coinage at Seleucia than has hitherto been known is now possible, therefore, it is nevertheless clear that a full corpus of coin varieties, including all obverse dies and, very probably, even monogram types and combinations, is still lacking. There are relatively few die links between the six listed coin series (only Series II and Series IV link with Series V; Series III links with Series IV), and even within the several series, few dies link individual groups (63). Although the internal sequence proposed for Seleucus' coinage is still uncertain, a number of elements support it in a general manner. Coin no. 31 has a symbol (owl) and two monograms in the exergue, while all others have two monograms in their inner left field. It is more closely related to issues of Antiochus VII (nos. 15-17) than to those of Antiochus VIII or any other known coins of Seleucus VI, and it has therefore been placed at the beginning of the catalogue, as a series of its own. Series II is probably early: Group 5 links with Series V, but the linking die (A.6) is fresher on ro.42 than on no. 135. Series III, Group 6, Iinks with Series IV, Group 12; in both cases die wear also indicates the probable sequence. Series IV, Group 14, also links with Series V. Within Series IV, die wear and the recutting of two dies (A21 and A23: see nos. 100 and 105) indicate that Group 12 preceded Group 13. Series VI is marked by crude style, anomalous monogram combinations, and several coins with very low weights. Its coins could have been struck at the same time as those of Series III and IV, which appear to have been produced during a period of great monetary need, when the mint might have employed inexperienced engravers to help cut dies. These issues could also have been produced at the end of Seleucus' reign. More coins are needed to provide certainty. Although the catalogue of Seleucus' coinage at Seleucia is incomplete, the known coins and their obverse dies permit several conclusions to be drawn about the production of the mint. A review of the material shows clearly that the number of obverse dies used to strike Seleucus' coinage during this brief period is extraordinary, even for an active mint. Yet on the basis of both probability theory and empirical evidence, more are likely to appear. Drawing on the work of F. Marriott, E. J. (63) In the catalogue, Bellinger's series have been rearranged and in some appropriate. cases merged, where it has been believed 96 A. HoucHroN P' Raven has noted, and W. McGovern has demonstrated mathematically (64), that the likelihood of finding at least one or more additional full-life obverse dies within a short series (less than fifteen coins) is about equal if the ratio of known coins to known obverse dies (the index figure) is around 2 (65). Excluding recut dies and coins without recorded die information the index figure for the listed coins of Seleucus is 126145 or 2.80; yet the sample is skewed by the fact that the two longest subseries (Groups 12 and 13) are represented by 75 coins struck from 1g dies, yielding an index figure of 3.95 for these two groups alone, while the rest of the series is represented by 51 coins with 26 obverses, with an index figure of 1.96. Probability theory by itself leads one to conclude that there is approximately an even chance that one more obverse die may be found for Groups 12 and 13, and that several or many remaining obverse dies are to be expected for Groups 1-11 and 14-24. This is implied in any case by the relative absence of obverse die links between Groups 1-7 and 10-23. The theory may be tested against the history of recent appearances of tetradrachms of Seleucus VI struck at Seleucia. Prior to 1982, 110 such coins struck from 43 obverse dies with an index figure of 2.56 were known in the various public and private collections listed in the- catalogue. Since then twenty new coins have been recorded; of these, two no.50 in Group 6, and no. 141 in Group 21 - results support were struck from previously unknown obverse dies. The the expectations of Marriott, Raven and McGovern (uu). The many variables involved make it difficult to estimate the total number of coins which the mint produced during Seleucus' reign. Only possible orders of magnitude, based on reasonable assumptions, may be suggested. One such assumption is that the production of the mint at Seleucia was extremely irregular, beginning at a modest rate of output shortly after Seleucus' arrival in Cilicia, then increased dramatically as his military preparations created a mounting demand for currency, and finally fell off after his occupation of Antioch which, as Seleucus' new capital, would then have had the primary responsibility of providing money for his kingdom. This historical assumptiofl mag be sustained by the catalogue of the known coins. Groups 1-11 would appear to have been issued in the first months or year of Seleucus' reign at Seleucia. The small number of recovered coins in these groups may simply indicate a low survival rate; it could also suggest that the royal mint was not hard-pressed to produce a large volume of coinage at this time and gave only limited use to newly-cut dies. Groups 12 and 13, however, are characterized by relatively Iarge numbers of recovered coins, a large number of obverse dies within each group, (64) E. J. P. Re.vrN, Problems of the Earliest Owls of Athens, in .Essays in Greek Coinage Presenled to Stanleg Robinson, 1968, p.40-58; W. McGovnnN, Mtssing Die Probabilities, Etpected Die Production and the Inder Figure, in -ANSMN, 25, 1980, p.209-223; M. TuouesoN, The Nero Stgte Coinage of Athens, New york, 1961, p.711, drawing on Raven's conclusions, appears to be the first numismatic scholar to have discussed the application of ,,Marriott,s Law,' to the production of obverse dies and its relationship to the total coinage output at a major mint. I am grateful to Dr. McGovern for having reviewed this section of the study, and for his helpful corrections and comments. (65) On the assumption of N existing obverse dies in a given sample (S), the index figure (I) can be defined as I : S/(N-l): McGovonN, above n. 64, p.214. As McGovern points out, p.222, his conclusions assume that the coinage in question is represented by a reasonable sample consisting of at least several short series and not just a single specimen or two. This assumption is valid in the case of the coinage of Seleucus vI at Seleucia. (66) A similar analysis may be made by treating the major collections of London, paris and New york as groups of "newly recovered" coins. Using this approach, one coin of nine in the British Museum (no.31, Group 1, in the catalogue) would have a "new" obverse die. The same is true for the coins of the Bibliothdque Nationate, whose nine coins would have one "new" obverse die (no.35, Group 4), and the five examples in the ANS, which would also have one "new" die (no. 53, Group 9). Whether one analyzes coins recovered in a given time frame or groups of coins in large collections, the coin samples should have been randomly assembled if the predicted results are to apply. oxford, Tne srr-BuclD MINT oF SELEUCIA oN THE CALYCADNUS significant die wear over time, and in Group 13 several examples of obverse-die recutting. The issues of these two groups were almost certainly produced at a time of significant monetary demand, when Seleucus'preparations for his assault on Antioch had reached a peak of intensity. The later, irregular series might then have followed, again with relatively low die outputs (67). If nominal output values are assigned to these groups, it can be suggested that in the short-lived Groups 1-4, 6-11 and14-24 (excluding Group 17, whose coins were struck from used dies), some 4000per die in G000 coins per obverse die may have been struck; 6000-8000 in Group 5; and 8000-10,000 Groups 12 and 13. This would yield a total value of between 288,000 and 390,000 tetradrachms, or roughly 192-260 talents' production from the known dies. This is not an extraordinarily large output overall but the given die output values are conservative (68), and the figures do not take into account the likety discovery of new obverse dies. Moreover, if one assumes that Group 5 and the groups of Series III, IV and V were struck in close succession or concurrently, then a minimum of close to 75o/o of the mint's output), may have been produ216,000-284,000 coins (144-189 talents for ced within a single year (6s). Such a production rate is more than twice that given by Thompson B.C.('o). the highest annual rate of output for the mint of Athens in the second century B. The Dates of Seleucus' Reign The historical sources indicate only that, after the murder of his father Antiochus VIII Grypus by his war minister, Seleucus raised an army in Cilicia and succeeded in seizing Antioch, which had been occupied by Antiochus IX Cyzicenus a fourth time (?1). The Seleucid capital was successfully retaken by Cyzicenus' son, Antiochus X, who drove Seleucus out of northern Syria entirely. Seleucus fled to Mopsus, where he was killed or committed Little is known of the career of Seleucus VI. suicide. The few historical references to this period suggest that Seleucus took and held Cilicia for a continuous period from the date of Grypus' murder (which modern historians place at c' 96 B.C.) to about g4 B.C. when, shortly after his expulsion from Antioch and death at Mopsus, the province was seized by his brothers Antiochus XI and Philip I (72). Yet as we have seen, Seleucus' coinage at Seleucia on the Calycadnus is marked by an extraordinary number of obverse dies (44) and monogram combinations (24). Could it have been produced within a two-year span, and could its greater intended to finance Seleucus' military preparations before he seized Antioch have been part struck within a single year or less ? The volume and variety of coin issues, which is unparalleled at t67) Thesuggestedsequencecannotbeconfirmedbytheinternalevidence,andcouldjustaswellhaveendedwiththe series. This would not alter the assumptions of the coin output values discussed here, however. by Thompt68) They conform to the suggested 6000 coins per obverse die for Athenian New Style coinage suggested propoBabylon of issues lifetime second Alexander's for per obverse 6000-10000 coins p. and 710-721, n.65, above son. p'272, n' 8 for esp' p.269-280, 1979, :ed by N. WeccoNnn, Tetradrachms from Babglon, in -Essags Thompson, Wetteren, Coinage Amphictgonic The KlNNs, P. see however, vaiues, a major upward revision of such suggested die-output struck for Athens' Reconsiilered, in NC, 143, 1983, p. 18-19, who proposes that up to 20,000 coins per obverse die were lEl more than tripling Thompson's values. coinage (69) O. Monr<uorn, The Life of Obuerse Dies in the Hellenistic Periotl, in Studies in Numismalic Method Presented lo phitip Grierson, Cambridge, 1983, p.11-16, suggests that at a large and active mint obverse die life may have been no during more than three to five months. It is virtualiy certain that a number of dies were in simultaneous use at Seleucia the period of greatest production under Seleucus VI. (70) TnonpsoN, above, n.64, P.712. (71) Bar-r-rNcnn, above n.51, pp. 72-74, noLes the historical sources. (72) Bnr-r-rNcen, above n. 51, p. 72, followed by tr. Wrrr-, Histoire politique du monde hellinistique, Nancy, 1967, p.374-5. \ex' Style 98 A. Houourolr any other mint of the later Seleucid Empire, argues against this and suggests instead that it was likely produced over a longer period, perhaps as much as three or four years. This would place the beginning of Seleucus' reign at this city (and the presumed date of Antiochus vIII Grypus,, death) some years earlier than has heretofore been supposed, perhaps in gg or 97 B.c. This chronological conclusion is based only on the imptications of the character of Seleucus, coinage issued at a single mint. There is no evidence which contradicts this hypothesis, but it should be emphasized there is also nothing else which provides positive support for it. The historical sources, primarily Eusebius and Josephus (?3), show only that Seleucus' occupation of Cilicia preceded his seizure of Antioch, and provide no other indication of the dates of his reign in the Syrian north. The evidence of the coins is also silent. The last known dated coin of Grypus was struck at Damascus in S'E' 214 (99/98 B'C') ('). While this does not conflict with the view that his death occurred in the same year or the next, there are no other known dated coins of either Grypus or Cyzicenus which might provide further clarification. The issues struck during cyzicenus' tourtrr reign at Antioch are slightly more numerous than had earlier been supposed yet this does not necessarily mean that they ; were issued over a period of more than a year or two, or that cyzicenus' last reign at the Seleucid capital began as early as g8 B.C. (s;. The coins show clearly that Seleucia on the calycadnus was Seleucus' principal base of operation in Cilicia, perhaps because the central Cilician plain, including Tarsus, was denied to him for a time by the forces of Antiochus Cyzicenus ('u). H. struck rare tetradrachms at rarsus, although when during his reign is not known; but for these and a single known tetradrachm issue, struck for unclear reasons at an Elaeusa Sebaste, he produced no other coins in the area (??). No royal Seleucid coins struck after the reign of Seleucus vI can be attributed to Seleucia on the calycadnus' After g4 B.c., the mint's production of silver gave way to that of bronze issues, clearly identifiable by their inscription or local typology. (73) Eus. i, p.259; Josephus, Arclr. 365; also, pompeius Trogus, pro1. 39. (74) Monxuor-u, above n.37, p.12. (75) SeecsE,no'353,notinNewell,sMA. Bslr-rNcen,aboven.5l,p.T3,suggeststhatatAntiochdifferentgroups of monograms were used in different years. There is no basis to sustain such a clear relationship between monogram groups and chronology at Antioch, however, and it was cleariy not the case at Seleucia. (76) Bur-rNcnn, above n. bl, p. 7J, no.64; CSE, p.42. (77) Tarsus: Lr Rroan, above n. 22, p.15, no.8. The tetradrachm of Seleucus vI of Elaeusa Sebaste: A. HoucnroN and w' Moonr, Fiue sereucid coin Notes, in ANSMN, 33, 19gg, forthcoming. ARTHUR HOUGHTON ffi A Pl. XXIII B w ffiffi, wffi SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA / CALYCADNUS PI. XXIV ARTHUR HOUGI{IO SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA CALYCADNUS / ARTHUR HOUGHTON PI. XXV SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA/CALYCADNUS i Pl. XXVI n SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA / CALYCADNUS ARTHUR HOUGHTON PI. XXVII ARTHUR HOUGHTON F SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIAICALYCADNUS PI. XXVIII F --l SELEUCID MINT OF SELEUCIA/CALYCADNUS ARTHUR.HOUGHTON