Tetradrachm, Sardes circa 281-268, AR 26 mm, 13.21 g. Diademed, horned head of Seleucus I r. Rev. BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ANTIOXOΥ Horned horse head r. In r. field, two monograms. WSM 1359 (these dies). SC 322.
Of the highest rarity, the second known and the only one in private hands. A portrait
of excellent style struck in high relief. Surface somewhat porous and areas of
corrosion, otherwise good very fine

Seleucus I Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid dynasty and architect of an empire spanning from Asia Minor in the west to the borders of India in the east was struck down by the assassin’s blade in 281 BC, leaving his son Antiochus I Soter to succeed him. Although Antiochus I had ruled alongside his father since 294 BC and was well known in the Upper Satrapies, he was more of an unknown quantity in the west. Thus, upon news of Seleucus’ death, the cities of Syria Seleucis took the opportunity to rise up in revolt while Ptolemy II Philadelphus lay claim to parts of southern Asia Minor. Antiochus I seems to have quickly put out the fires in Syria and asserted his royal legitimacy in western Asia Minor, but he soon faced the new and major menace posed by the Galatians. These fearsome Celtic warriors had burst into Macedonia around 280 BC and after a failed attempt to sack Delphi in 278 crossed the Hellespont to serve as mercenaries for Nicomedes I of Bithynia. Once they had served their purpose in Nicomedes’ army, in 277 BC they took to roaming western Asia Minor and extorting protection money from the cities—something that was very detrimental to the Seleucid royal economy. After years of Galatian terror and the inability of the king to contain it, Antiochus I defeated the Celtic marauders using war elephants in a celebrated battle that may have taken place around 269/8 BC. In gratitude, the cities subsequently hailed Antiochus I as Soter (”Savior”). At the same time that western Anatolia was being ravaged by the Galatians, Ptolemy II made a second attempt to seize Seleucid possessions. By the time the First Syrian War (274-271 BC) was over, Ptolemy II had taken parts of Caria, Cilicia, and Pamphylia from Antiochus I, but the bulk of the Seleucid kingdom remained intact under his authority. This began to change in 263 BC, as Eumenes I, a Pergamene dynast whose father had previously been loyal to Seleucus I sought independence and successfully detached much of northwestern Asia Minor. Antiochus I did not live long enough to try and reclaim it. He died in 261 BC at the age of 64.