★ Very Rare and Desirable Type ★

SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Demetrios I Soter, 162-150 BC. (Bronze, 23 mm, 15.92 g, 2 h), uncertain mint in Northern Syria. Lion's head to left. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΕΡΟΣ Boar's head to right; to left, monogram. Babelon 738. HGC 9, 823 (R2). SC 1660d. A very rare and desirable type. Dark green patina. Flan crrack, otherwise, very fine.

From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.

SC mentions that the popular animal types from this series, of which this is the largest denomination, may reflect Demetrios' preference for the rural way of life. Although the animals depicted are often intriguing and finely engraved, perhaps more interesting is the fact that this is the only bronze series from a western mint where Demetrios' epithet Soter appears (otherwise it only found on bronzes from Seleukeia and Ekbatana).