SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos XIII Philadelphos (Asiatikos), second reign, 65/4 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 15.56 g, 1 h), Antiochia on the Orontes. Diademed head of Antiochos XIII to right. Rev. [B]AΣIΛE[ΩΣ] / ANTIOXOY - [Φ]ΙΛAΔEΛΦOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram of MAX; all within laurel wreath. HGC 9, 1340. SC 2487a. Very rare. A couple of minor scratches on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.



Antiochos XIII Philadelphos was the elder son of Antiochos X and Kleopatra Selene. He was the last Seleukid king to issue his own coins, ruling twice in Antioch in 69/8-67 and, perhaps, once again in 65/4. However, both his claims to the throne as well as those of his rival Philip II Philorhomaios were disregarded by Pompey 'the Great', who annexed Syria as a Roman province and had Antiochos XIII executed in 64/3.