SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Antiochos XIII Philadelphos (Asiatikos), second reign, 65/4 BC (?). Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 15.22 g, 12 h), Antiochia on the Orontes. Diademed head of Antiochos XIII to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - ΦΙΛAΔEΛΦOY Zeus seated left, holding Nike in his right hand and scepter in his left; in inner left field, monogram; all within laurel wreath. SC 2487a. Very rare and of great historical interest, the last Seleukid coin. A beautifully toned example with an unusually attractive portrait. Some 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.