SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Tryphon, circa 142-138 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 16.25 g, 1 h), Antiochia on the Orontes. Diademed head of Tryphon to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / TPYΦΩNOΣ - AYTOKPATOPOΣ Spiked Macedonian (or Cretan?) helmet with cheek guard to left, adorned with wild goat's horn above visor; in inner left field, monogram; all within oak wreath. SC -, cf. 2031 (unlisted monogram, but cf. 2033e for this monogram on a drachm). Extremely rare and of great historical interest. A well centered and very attractive example of this important issue with an excellent portrait. Good very fine.


Tryphon was a former strategos of Demetrios I and Alexander who appointed the two-year-old Antiochos VI to king in 144 BC and acted as his tutor and protector. It was during this guardianship that the Jews under the lead of Simon Thassi successfully seceeded from the Seleukid state after Tryphon captured and killed Simon's brother Jonathan Apphus in 143 BC. Tryphon, on the other hand, assumed the kingship for himself when Antiochos VI died in 142/1 BC, but he was defeated and killed by Antiochos VII in 138 BC.