★ Very Rare Nisibis Issue of Seleukos II ★

SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Seleukos II Kallinikos, 246-226 BC. (Bronze, 17 mm, 5.85 g, 3 h), Nisibis. Jugate heads of the Dioskouroi to right, each wearing a laureate pileus. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Anchor; to left, monogram; to right, bridled and horned horse's head right. HGC 9, 355 (R2). SC 756. WSM 815. Very rare. Brown patina. Very fine.

From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.

Refounded by Seleukos I as a military colony, Nisibis lay on the route between Antioch and Ekbatana. No coins were struck at there before the reign of Seleukos II, who probably used the city as a staging point in his campaign to recover Parthia after it was overrun by Arsakes I in circa 238. The bronzes from the mint feature strongly bevelled obverse edges and loose dies, and all but one issue show the jugate busts of the Dioskouroi.