★ An unpublished weight from Antiochia on the Orontes ★

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia on the Orontes, 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Weight of 1/8 Mina (Ogdoon) (Lead, 50x49 mm, 68.86 g). ΟΓ-ΔO / AN-TI Anchor. Rev. Blank. Pondera -, cf. Pondera 12012 (Mina), 3532 (1/2 Mina) and 14411 (1/4 Mina). Apparently unpublished. Some scuffs on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

The inscription 'ANTI' on this interesting weight does not refer to an Antiochos, but rather to the city of Antiochia on the Orontes, from where many of these impressive lead weights originate. The Seleukid anchor dates our piece to the 3rd to 1st centuries BC, with the terminus post quem being the deposition of the last Seleukid by Pompey in 63 BC. However, an earlier date in the 3rd or 2nd century BC seems most likely.