SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 3.94 g, 6h). Aï Khanoum mint. Struck circa 280-271 BC. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 283. Estimated: $ 750

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 2 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 3.94 g, 6h). Aï Khanoum mint. Struck circa 280-271 BC. Diademed head right / Horned and bridled head of horse right, with braided, flame-like forelock; Δ-in-circle to right. SC 431.3; SMAK A1DH-39–40 var. (a20/p– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 9, 136. Toned, hairlines on obverse. Good VF.

This coin is from one of the first issues of Seleukid coinage at Aï Khanoum, later a major Baktrian capital city. This unusual issue features the horned horse’s head, which had been a fairly common symbol in the reign of Seleukos I, father of Antiochos. While the exact identification of the steed is not certain the two prevailing theories are that it is either Alexander’s famed mount Boukephalas, or the horse that carried Seleukos to safety when he fled Babylon from the invading Antigonos Monophthalmos in 315 BC. Seleukos revered the horse, and had it deified and erected a monument to it at Antioch.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 19 September at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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