GODDESS ARTEMIS RIDING IN BATTLE ~ GOLD COIN OF SELEUCUS I NIKATOR

 Seleucus I Nikator

Stater, Susa circa 287 BCE. Laureate head of Apollo, looking right.  Rev. [BAΣIΛEΩΣ] Artemis about to shoot arrow, riding on an elephant biga. Above, horizontal anchor and in lower l. field, IΣ / bee. In exergue, [Σ]EΛEYK[OY]. ( of SELEUCUS )
An apparently unrecorded variety of an extremely rare type. An issue of great importance and fascination, struck on a full flan and extremely fine.

Unlike most Seleucid kings, Seleucus I struck a very large quantity of gold coins. However, the vast majority was issued in the name of Alexander III, and employed his familiar design that combined the helmeted head of Athena with Nike holding a wreath and stylis. To those we may add a significantly smaller group of staters bearing that same design, but issued in the name of Seleucus.Beyond these, there are three extraordinary rarities: distaters of the Alexandrine type bearing the name of Seleucus, darics and double-darics bearing on their obverse a portrait of Alexander III in elephant scalp and on their reverse a standing Nike, and staters with the laureate head of Apollo and a biga of elephants driven by Goddess Artemis, who draws an arrow in Her bow.

The latter type, offered here, is currently known by issues from Susa and from an uncertain mint in Bactria. The Bactrian issue – though fascinating and of historical interest – is of a rustic style in comparison with the Susa issue, which is struck with an obverse die engraved in excellent Greek style.The example offered here shares the obverse die of the other recorded example from Susa, though it was struck with a different reverse die. The previously known example has in its fields the letter K and a spearhead, whereas the present coin has a horizontal anchor, a bee, and the letters IΣ; all of which are known, separately, from other Seleucus I issues of Susa. When this stater was struck, the Apollo die appears to have been in a later state than when it produced the one recorded by Houghton and Lorber, thus assuring it is a subsequent issue.

SOURCE : Numisbids.com