★ A Tetradrachm of Antiochos Hierax of exceptionally fine style, ex Leu 22, 8 May 1979, 156 ★

SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos Hierax, circa 242-227 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 16.95 g, 12 h), Teos (?). Diademed head of Antiochos II to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXOY Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his left on grounded bow; to left, filleted palm branch; in exergue, monogram. SC 896.1. WSM 1499. Rare and of exceptionally fine style. Minor traces of overstriking on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

From the Basileiai Hellēnikai Collection of Exceptional Tetradrachms, from the collection of Dr. Guy Silvain Paul Bastin, Künker 367, 6 April 2022, 7287, privately acquired from J. Elsen on 12 June 1999, and ex Leu 22, 8 May 1979, 156. Newell identified this rare type as a lifetime issue of Antiochos II, but both style and hairstyle suggest it belongs to Antiochos Hierax, whose tetradrachms display a bewildering variety of portraits - ranging from depictions of Antiochos I and Antiochos II to Hierax himself, as well as idealized, generic portraits that cannot be securely attributed to any ruler. In the case of our coin, there can be no doubt that the portrait represents Antiochos II, the father of Antiochos Hierax. The piece stands out not only for its exquisite portrait but also for the exceptionally refined and detailed engraving of Apollo on the reverse - note the masterful rendering of the drapery folds and the omphalos.