SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Antiochos Hierax, circa 242-227 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 16.61 g, 12 h), Alexandria Troas. Rejuvenated head of Antiochos I to right, wearing winged diadem. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXOY Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his left on grounded bow; to outer left, two monograms; in exergue, horse grazing right. SC 876.5. A beautiful coin with a particularly juvenile and idealized portrait of Antiochos I. A few light marks, otherwise, good very fine.


The coinage of Antiochos Hierax is notable for the extremely diverse portraits that appear on the obverse, many of which can be identified as Antiochos I and Antiochos II, the grand-father and father of the king. In Alexandria Troas, the tetradrachms invariably show Antiochos I, although in different stages of idealization: he always wears a winged diadem, for which a connection to the local cult of Athena Ilias has been suggested.