SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Demetrios II Nikator, second reign, 129-126/5 BC. (Bronze, 19 mm, 5.62 g, 1 h), quasi-municipal issue, Laodikeia in Phoenicia (Berytos). Diademed and draped bust of Demetrios II to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ / "of Laodikeia, mother ( i.e., metropolis) in Canaan ( in Phoenician ) Ba'al-Berit (Poseidon) standing facing, holding patera in right hand and trident in left; across field, ΛΑ - monogram of ΦΟ; to upper right, monogram of ΔΩ. HGC 9, 1136 (R2). Rouvier 452. SC 2186. Very rare. Brown patina with earthen deposits. Fine.

From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.

The highly interesting and quite rare Seleukid quasi-municipal coinage from Berytos began during the reign Antiochos IV and lasted until that of Antiochos VIII, a period of about 55 years. The reverse types are varied, but on this largest bronze denomination, the type is consistent across all the reigns in which it was struck: all feature the god Ba'al-Berit, the local version of the Greek Poseidon, along with the Phoenician legend "of Laodikeia, mother ( i.e., metropolis) in Canaan.".