Antiochus IX (the Philopator)
AE19mm 6.05g BC114-113 Black Patina with some red spots
Observe:well centered excellent portrait of Antiochus IX
Reverse:ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ above winged thunderbolts ΦΙΛΟΠΛΤΟΡΟΣ below with monogram and Seleucid date
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΛΤΟΡΟΣ translation: King Antiochus Philopatros - underlined text are missing characters from coin due to die not being perferctly centered
Overall a beautiful greek bronze but especially nice compared to other Bronzes of Antiochus IX and in excellent condition - compare to examples given at wildwinds, british museum catalouge & SNG - this coin is far superior. Well centered, clear strike, legend is almost fully ledgible (only missing four letters) and a great patina. If you collect Seleucids you would be hard pressed to find a better example. If not its a beautiful example of portraiture which has that elusive quality of capturing the sense of a man's character.
King Antiochus IX's given name was Cyzicenus and he came from a family that would make Machavelli wince. His mother, Cleopatra Thea, daughter of Ptolemy Physcon, king of egypt, was married to Alexander II - a political marriage designed to make Alexander king of the Selucid empire. For 29 years she was the power behind the throne who suscessively married the next two Selucid kings (after Alexander), who murdered her own son when he took power, who took the throne outright and then was in turn murdered by Cyzicenus' older brother Grypus whom she had set upon the throne. At this point Cyzicenus tried to sieze control from brother Grypus but only succeded in spliting the once proud Selucid empire in two (which was only a piece of Alexander the Great's empire) . I guess what they say about crap running downhill is true: )
Confusing family tree aside Antiochus IX was the last Selucid king to make coins of real quality and this is a really fine example of his bronze coinage.
Good Luck bidding
MRBOBOTRON
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