SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Timarchos, usurper, 164-161 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 16.50 g, 9 h), Ekbatana. Diademed and draped bust of Timarchos to right, wearing triple-crested Boeotian helmet. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY / [T]IMA[PXOY] The Dioskouri galloping to right, each holding spear in his right hand. HGC 9, 761. A. Houghton: Timarchus as king in Babylonia, in: RN 21 (1979), p. 214, A. SC 1589. Extremely rare, apparently the fifth known example. One of the key rarities in the Seleukid series, and of great historical importance. Somewhat rough and the reverse double struck, otherwise, very fine.


Timarchos was a retainer of Antiochos IV who was first employed as ambassador to Rome and later became satrap of one of the eastern satrapies, most likely Media. When Demetrios I overthrew Antiochos V, Timarchos rebelled, quickly securing recognition from the Roman Senate and claiming the title of 'Great King' on his coins. The latter was an innovation - no previous Seleukid ruler had employed this title on their coins - and it probably served to link Timarchos to the Greco-Bactrian king, Eukratides I. The latter claimed the title of 'Great King' after his successful campaigns in India, and Timarchos' extremely rare tetradrachms directly copy those of Eukratides, showing him wearing a Macedonian helmet on the obverse and the Dioskouroi on horseback on the reverse. All this indicates friendly relations between the two men, most likely in the face of common foes, such as the Parthians. Demetrios I, on the other hand, was building up his forces in Antioch and in early 161, he marched out against Timarchos, defeating and killing the rebellious governor in battle near Babylon.