SELEUKID KINGS. Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.09 g, 12 h), in the types of Alexander the Great. Pergamon, struck under Philetairos, circa 281-280. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; below throne, star. SC 308. WSM 1531. Rare and of considerable historical interest. Slightly porous and with a scrape on the reverse
, otherwise, good extremely fine.
From the Basileiai Hellēnikai Collection of Exceptional Tetradrachms and from the collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl, Leu 8, 23 October 2021, 104, privately acquired from Bank Leu on 14 April 1988.
Newell suggested that this interesting issue was struck by Philetairos in the aftermath of Seleukos' assassination by Ptolemy Keraunos in 281 BC, in combination with coins naming Alexander the Great (SC 306-307). The issue thus formed an intermediate step in the dynast's strife for independence. Later, Philetairos would go on to issue his own coinage, placing Seleukos' portrait on the obverse but his own name and type on the reverse
