★ A new mint for Antiochos IV Epiphanes ★

SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Antiochos IV Epiphanes, 175-164 BC. AE (Bronze, 18 mm, 2.93 g, 11 h), Epiphaneia, circa 168-164. Diademed and draped bust of Antiochos IV to right. Rev. EΠΙΦANE[ΩN / ...]TO Artemis standing front, head to left, drawing arrow from quiver with her right hand and holding bow in her left. SC -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Levante -. SNG Paris -. SNG PFPS -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished and of great historical interest. Somewhat rough, otherwise, very fine.

Epiphaneia was originally named Oiniandos, but like other cities, it received a dynastic name under Seleukid rule. Its eponym was Antiochos IV, who bore the epithet Epiphanes and who was particularly active in granting dynastic names to poleis in Cilicia: the Seleukid names of Adana and Mopsos, for example - Antiocheia on the Saros and Seleukeia on the Pyramos - are attested solely from the local bronze coinage struck during this king's reign (SC 1379-1380 and 1385-1387). The emergence of the present coin from Epiphaneia with a discernible portrait of Antiochos IV now adds a new mint to the list of Cilician cities issuing civic coins under a Seleukid name during his reign. Unfortunately, the lower line of the reverse legend on our coin is not fully readable: it may carry a date (ETOYΣ?), but it is too poorly preserved to be of any help. It is worth noting, however, that the Epiphaneia also struck an issue showing a different diademed ruler on the obverse, which has been variously identified as either Antiochos IV or Alexander the Great (SNG Levante 1805-1806 and SNG Paris 2392, reverse legend EΠΙΦANEΩN THΣ IEPAΣ Θꟼ). This type carries a date of 99 (Θꟼ), which is either to the Aradian era and thus dating the issue to 160/59 BC, or to later civic era starting in 68 BC and dating the coins to 31/2 AD. Style and fabric as well as the discovery of the present coin of Antiochos IV with a similar reverse type argue for the earlier date, in which case the portrait on SNG Levante 1805-1806 and SNG Paris 2392 is likely that of Demetrios I (162-150 BC), who may have granted the city the title IEPAΣ ('sacred') after his succession to the throne.