SELEUKID KINGS. Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 22 mm, 16.30 g, 8 h), Susa, circa 288/7. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. Elephant walking right; above, spearhead right; in exergue, A. ESM 323. HGC 9, -. SC 187.1a. Extremely rare. Traces of corrosion and with a minor scrape on the edge of the reverse, otherwise, about very fine.



This extremely rare and highly unusual emission features an elephant on the reverse. The motif undoubtedly references the Anabasis of Seleukos nearly two decades earlier, during which he made a treaty with Chandragupta, securing 500 war elephants and later ensuring his victory over Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Unlike earlier eastern tetradrachms, this type does not depict Zeus in an elephant quadriga but rather a single animal, with no accompanying legend. The origins of this peculiar and anonymous emission remain shrouded in mystery but probably stem from a local background.