This coin is a fascinating type of the Alexander I Balas Tetradrachm with an exceptionally rare monogram variety. This monogram seems to only have been produced with a single die, as all known images of coins bearing this monogram share the same engraving. The bottom of this description further outlines my findings and research.
SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm, Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram; in exergue, EΞP and MYTP. Pleasant cabinet tone. Flan crack at 5h good very fine.
16.74g
29mm
REF: SC 1784.3e
Below outlines the research of this types identification history I have completed and known die matches.
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Journal international d'archéologie numismatique, Volume 13, 1911 (W. V. Voigt ed. Ioannes N Svronos)
Seleucid Coins of the Hermitage Collection, St. Petersburg
https://archive.org/details/journalinternati1213sboruoft/page/158/mode/2up
JIAN 487
487. 43. AR 29,5, gr. 15,45 II-I, IL — Cfr. ibid. 111,877. -Rs. Unter der Rechten des Gottes Monogr. 105, im Abschnitte EΞP und Monopgr. 106
The Seleucid Mint of Antioch (SMA), Edward T. Newell, The American Numismatic Society, 1918
https://ia801305.us.archive.org/7/items/cu31924029779729/cu31924029779729.pdf
SMA 152
152. Tetradrachm
Obv. Diademed head of Alexander I to r. Fillet border.
Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus, with chlamis draped over 1. shoulder and legs, seated to 1. on throne (which sometimes has back), holds wreath-bearing Nike in outstretched r., rests 1. on sceptre. On 1., outside inscription, cornucopiae, between figure and M105. In exergue, EΞP, M106.
Seleucid Coins (SC) Seleucid Coins, A comprehensive Catalog, part II, Seleucus IV through Antiochus XIII, Houghton-Lorber SC 1784.3e
https://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.1784.3e
Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long sceptre in his left; in inner left field, M105; in exergue, EΞP and M106.
THE GAZIANTEP HOARD, 1994
One recorded. A1721 n.w. & no plate.
https://www.academia.edu/285323/The_Gaziantep_Hoard_1994_CH_9_527_10_308_
Die Matches
Rodolfo Ratte – Lugano 4 April 1927 Lot 2476
Importante Collection De Toutues Regions De L’Epoque Grecque
Alexandre I (150-145). Buste diadémé à dr. AΛEΞANΔPOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ. à l'exergue, la date EΞP et monogr. MYTP. Manque dans B.M.C. Gr. 16,30. Tétradrachme. Belle
Sold: 22 Francs
Leu Numismatik Auction 8 Lot 143, 23 October 2021
https://leunumismatik.com/de/lot/22/143/%5B35%2C38%5D
SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.71 g, 1 h), Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram; in exergue, EΞP and monogram. SC 1784.3e. Nicely toned. Minor deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.
From the collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl.
Schätzpreis:350 CHF
Startpreis:280 CHF
Zuschlag:600 CHF
TimeLine Auctions Auction 170 – Coins Lot 2674, 10 – 12 March 2026 (this coin)
Misidentified
Seleukid Empire, Alexander I Balas AR Tetradrachm. Dated SE 165 (148/7 BC). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY, Zeus seated to left, holding sceptre with right hand and Nike with wreath with left; EΞP (date) and monogram of ΠΥΤΡ in exergue. SC 1784.4a var. (slightly differing monogram of ΠΥΡ); DCA 118; HGC 9, 875a. 16.74gr, 29mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Pleasant cabinet tone. Flan crack at 5h. Apparently the only example with this monogram variety.
^ Poor claim
From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s.
This coin is a fascinating type of the Alexander I Balas Tetradrachm with an exceptionally rare monogram variety. This monogram seems to only have been produced with a single die, as all known images of coins bearing this monogram share the same engraving. The bottom of this description further outlines my findings and research.
SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm, Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram; in exergue, EΞP and MYTP. Pleasant cabinet tone. Flan crack at 5h good very fine.
16.74g
29mm
REF: SC 1784.3e
Below outlines the research of this types identification history I have completed and known die matches.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Journal international d'archéologie numismatique, Volume 13, 1911 (W. V. Voigt ed. Ioannes N Svronos)
Seleucid Coins of the Hermitage Collection, St. Petersburg
https://archive.org/details/journalinternati1213sboruoft/page/158/mode/2up
JIAN 487
487. 43. AR 29,5, gr. 15,45 II-I, IL — Cfr. ibid. 111,877. -Rs. Unter der Rechten des Gottes Monogr. 105, im Abschnitte EΞP und Monopgr. 106
The Seleucid Mint of Antioch (SMA), Edward T. Newell, The American Numismatic Society, 1918
https://ia801305.us.archive.org/7/items/cu31924029779729/cu31924029779729.pdf
SMA 152
152. Tetradrachm
Obv. Diademed head of Alexander I to r. Fillet border.
Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus, with chlamis draped over 1. shoulder and legs, seated to 1. on throne (which sometimes has back), holds wreath-bearing Nike in outstretched r., rests 1. on sceptre. On 1., outside inscription, cornucopiae, between figure and M105. In exergue, EΞP, M106.
Seleucid Coins (SC) Seleucid Coins, A comprehensive Catalog, part II, Seleucus IV through Antiochus XIII, Houghton-Lorber SC 1784.3e
https://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.1784.3e
Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long sceptre in his left; in inner left field, M105; in exergue, EΞP and M106.
THE GAZIANTEP HOARD, 1994
One recorded. A1721 n.w. & no plate.
https://www.academia.edu/285323/The_Gaziantep_Hoard_1994_CH_9_527_10_308_
Die Matches
Rodolfo Ratte – Lugano 4 April 1927 Lot 2476
Importante Collection De Toutues Regions De L’Epoque Grecque
Alexandre I (150-145). Buste diadémé à dr. AΛEΞANΔPOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ. à l'exergue, la date EΞP et monogr. MYTP. Manque dans B.M.C. Gr. 16,30. Tétradrachme. Belle
Sold: 22 Francs
Leu Numismatik Auction 8 Lot 143, 23 October 2021
https://leunumismatik.com/de/lot/22/143/%5B35%2C38%5D
SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Alexander I Balas, 152-145 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.71 g, 1 h), Antiochia on the Orontes, SE 165 = 148/7. Diademed head of Alexander I to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / AΛEΞANΔPOY - ΘEOΠATOPOΣ / EYEPΓETOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and long scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram; in exergue, EΞP and monogram. SC 1784.3e. Nicely toned. Minor deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.
From the collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl.
Schätzpreis:350 CHF
Startpreis:280 CHF
Zuschlag:600 CHF
TimeLine Auctions Auction 170 – Coins Lot 2674, 10 – 12 March 2026 (this coin)
Misidentified
Seleukid Empire, Alexander I Balas AR Tetradrachm. Dated SE 165 (148/7 BC). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY, Zeus seated to left, holding sceptre with right hand and Nike with wreath with left; EΞP (date) and monogram of ΠΥΤΡ in exergue. SC 1784.4a var. (slightly differing monogram of ΠΥΡ); DCA 118; HGC 9, 875a. 16.74gr, 29mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Pleasant cabinet tone. Flan crack at 5h. Apparently the only example with this monogram variety.
^ Poor claim
From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s.
