SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos Hierax, circa 242-227 BC. Drachm (Silver, 18 mm, 4.21 g, 12 h), uncertain mint 48, Tralleis (?). Diademed head of Antiochos II to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXO[Y] Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his left on grounded bow; to outer right, monograms. Astarte Young Collectors Auction 2 (2024), 261 (same dies). SC -, cf. 911 (same obverse die as illustration). Apparently unpublished. With an expressive portrait of fine style and a highly interesting recut reverse die. Minor die rust, otherwise, extremely fine.


A highly intriguing piece - and not only because it represents an unpublished type! Even more interestingly, comparison with lot 1714 below, struck from the same pair of dies, shows that the legend on the heavily worn reverse die was re-engraved to compensate for the wear. Together, the two coins provide a remarkable glimpse into how a mint reworked worn dies in order to prolong their use.