SELEUKID KINGS. Seleukos III Soter (Keraunos), 225-222 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 16.19 g, 12 h), in the name and types of Alexander III. Karne, CY 35 of Arados = 225/4. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPOY 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, KAP above palm and cornucopiae; below throne, 𐤓; in exergue, date (in Phoenician numerals). Price 3375. SC 929a. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. The obverse somewhat corroded and light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


Price suggested that the extremely rare Alexander issues struck under Seleukos III Keraunos at Karne should be understood in the context of the king’s efforts to reconquer Asia Minor. They are dated by the era of Arados, within whose peraia Karne was located, and were struck there concurrently with civic types. Perhaps the Aradian authorities chose the politically uncontentious Alexander iconography in order to avoid an overt display of subordination to the king’s authority.