![SELEUKID. Seleukos I Nikator, Tetradrachm, 296/5 BC [AGC5-12a] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AGC5-13-1.jpg)
Description
Séleukos I ‘nikátōr’ (‘the Victorious’) of the Seleucid Dynasty, as Basileus of the Seleucid Empire 305-281 AD, Silver Tetradrachm (16.89g, 25mm, Attic Standard), ‘Seleukeia on the Tigris II’ mint circa 296/5 BC. Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus facing to the right. Reverse: Athena ‘prómăkhos’ (‘who fights on the front line’) commands quadriga of elephants right, hurling spear with her right hand and holding round shield in left, Seleucid anchor above, “Δ” to inner left field, “ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” upward to left, “ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ” below, “Θ” in exergue. SC-130.22b. Heavily toned with a steel grey patina, evenly worn and well centred, near Very Fine.
The reverse Ancient Greek is stated in full as “βασιλεύς’ Σέλευκος”, translitered as “basileús Séleukos”, with an English translation of “King Seleucus”.
Séleukos Nikátōr (Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ) was a member of the Macedonian Nobility and born during the reign of Philip II of the Argead Dynasty, later serving as an officer and general under the Philip’s successor, the Macedonian King Alexander III ‘the Great’, serving as commander of the Hypaspistai (‘ὑπασπιστής’ – “shield bearer”). Following the great King’s death in 323 BC, Séleukos was one of the successors of the newly conquered Macedonian empire, those now known as the diádochoi (“διάδοχοι” – “Successors”), and was a key player in the subsequent ‘Wars of the Diadochi’, amongst other names such as Ptolemaîos I sōtḗr (‘Πτολεμαῖος σωτήρ’), Antĭ́gonos I monóphthalmos (‘Ἀντῐ́γονος μονόφθαλμος’), Kássandros (‘Κάσσανδρος’), and Lūsĭ́măkhos (‘Λῡσῐ́μᾰχος’). Séleukos would claim the title of basileús (‘βασιλεύς’ – “King”) in 306 BC at the apex of the civil war, founding the Seleucid Empire, which, after the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC – the conclusion of the Wars of the Diadochi – encompassed the East, the former landmass of the Achaemenid Empire, as well as eastern Anatolia and northern Syria. This was expanded to encompass all of Anatolia following the defeat of Lūsĭ́măkhos at the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC. The Seleucid Dynasty founded by Séleukos I would go on to be a major State of the Hellenistic era, lasting until its annexation by the Roman Republic in 63 BC.
