SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17 mm, 4.23 g, 2 h), likely a contemporary eastern imitation. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. [...]AΘEΩΣ (?) Athena, brandishing spear overhead in her right hand and holding shield in her left, standing right in quadriga of elephants moving to right; above to right, anchor and monogram. SC -. Apparently unpublished and very unusual. Minor flan faults on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.


While there is a great variety of styles to be found on Seleukos' elephant drachms from various mints, this example clearly has a blundered reverse legend. One would expect to read either ΣEΛEΥKOΥ or BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΣEΛEΥKOΥ below the quadriga, however, the letters appear to have been recut to read [...]AΘEΩΣ or something similar. In addition, the monogram was not known to Houghton & Lorber, which adds further weight to the argument that this is a contemporary imitation. In any case, it is a curious but very attractive coin