A late Seleukid bronze hoard, c.1988. more

COIN HOARDS VOLUME X Greek Hoards EDITED BY OLIVER HOOVER ANDREW MEADOWS UTE WARTENBERG ROYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY NEW YORK 2010 A LATE SELEUKID BRONZE HOARD, c. 1988 (CH10, 349) Nicholas L. Wright* Plates 66-67 The following study presents a hoard consisting of 244 bronze coins along with a single coin stamped on a lead flan. The hoard was purchased as a single lot by the Australian dealer and collector, Mr. Colin Pitchfork (in whose collection they remain) from C. J. Martin Coins Ltd in London on December 22, 1988. Mr. Ron Bolden who initially conserved the coins noted in correspondence with the owner: "The majority of the coins in the hoard had a rather 'greasy' look and a feel about them in contrast to other coins seen from this area which tend to have 'dry' encrustations and corrosion. It is thought that the hoard may have been stored in some kind of organic material; perhaps leather. Since the hoard was acquired from a dealer, this somewhat unusual character of the coins is considered significant as it lends credence to the integrity of the group as a genuine hoard and not a dealers accumulation." Although the majority of the coins are quite worn, all but two revealed some detail and the vast majority can be identified with some confidence. Two hundred of the coins are Seleukid royal issues, predominantly from Damascus. The dominance of this mint suggests burial in Koile Syria (see below). The remainder are issues of non-Seleukid kings, dynasts and autonomous cities, all datable to the second or first centuries BC. This hoard is of particular interest for several reasons. The fiduciary nature of bronze coins seems to have reduced incidences of hoarding in antiquity. Hoards of bronze coins do not often survive intact on the market and their study and publication has been extremely limited. Koile Syria, that is, the area east and south of the Lebanon mountain range has so far revealed relatively weak evidence from controlled archaeological excavations. The study of this hoard can therefore provide an initial investigation into patterns of circulation in this region. Catalogue Seleukid Kingdom Seleukos iii or Antiochos iii (225-187 BC) Antioch on the Orontes Obv: Laureate head of Apollo r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEOI [...]; Apollo seated 1. on omphalos, holding arrow in r. hand, resting r. hand on grounded bow. 5C924 or 1049. 1.* T 13mm; 2.7lg. * I would like to express my gratitude to the following people who all provided their expert assistance willingly throughout the study and publication of this hoard: Mr. Colin Pitchfork, Oliver Hoover of the American Numismatic Society, Dr. Kenneth Sheedy of The Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies (ACANS), Dr. Donald Ariel of the Israel Antiquites Authority, Dr. Josette Elayi of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Prof. John Melville-Jones of the University of Western Australia and my wife Laura for her support and enthusiasm. I should further like to thank ACANS and Noble Numismatics Ltd. for the use of their extensive libraries and resources. All errors remain my own. 245 Wright Antiochos III (223-187 BC) Uncertain mint 61, in southern Koile Syria Obv: Laureate head of Apollo r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEOX / ANTIoxoy; Horse standing r., raising 1. foreleg; dotted border. SC 1094. 2. * T 15mm; 3.81g. Ekbatana Obv: Diademed head of Antiochos III r.; dotted border. Rev: baxiaeoi/antioxoy; Nike standing 1. holding wreath in r. hand. SC 1242 or 1258. 3. * n 13mm; 2.46g; uncertain mint mark in inner 1. field. Antiochos IV (175-164 BC) Tyre Obv: Diademed head of Antiochos IV r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEHI/ANTIoxoY; Palm tree with two fruit; dotted border. SC 1470. 4. * T 15mm; 2.47g. Ptolemais (Ake) Obv: Laureate head of Apollo r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEOZ/ANTIoxoy; Apollo seated 1. on omphalos, holding arrow in r. hand, resting hand on grounded bow; dotted border. SC 1478.1o. 5. * f 13mm (serrated edge); 2.46g; in 1. field, aplustre; in exergue, ^. Perhaps Ptolemais (Ake) Obv: Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos IV r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEOZ/ANTIoxoy; Artemis standing 1. holding spear or long torch in r. hand, bow in 1.; dotted border. SC 1485. 6. * T 16mm; 3.76g. Perhaps Antiochos V (164-162 BC) Probably Tyre Obv: Laureate youthful male head r. (Melkart?); dotted border. Rev: Greek legend in two lines in 1. field, the second line of which appears to read ANTIoxf...]; Vertical club bound by diadem, the ends of which hang down either side giving the overall impression of a palm tree; dotted border. Unpublished. 7. * ^ 14mm; 2.27g; lanp (SE 151 = 161/0 BC). This appears to be a unique regal type of Tyre from the very end of the reign of Antiochos V Eupator. However, the issue may be a posthumous issue of that king, or his father Antiochos IV Epiphanes during a time of dynastic upheaval. The style of the obverse head with curly sideburn and thick neck is similar to the head of Melkart on the first century BC autonomous silver issues of the city and the club reverse certainly supports a Tyrian attribution. It is unfortunate that the legend is so badly preserved but the reading of ANT lox as the start of the second line in the right field appears likely and the reading of the date is almost certain. 246 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Demetrios I (162-150 BC) Tyre Obv: Diademed head of Demetrios I r.; dotted border. Rev: No visible legend; palm tree with two fruit; dotted border. SC 1676. 8. * T 14mm; 1.93g; HN-P (SE 158 = 154/3 BC). Demetrios II, first reign (^145—140 BC) Tyre Obv: Diademed head of Demetrios II r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEni AHMHTPloy TYPION; Stern of galley 1.; in lower r. field, 1lvi ("of Tyre"). SC 1970. 9. n 20mm; 6.70g; LHEP (SE 168 = 145/4 BC). 10. T I8mm; 5.77g; LOEP (SE 169 = 144/3 BC). 11. * T I9mm; 5.55g. 12. /" 20mm; 6.01 g. 13. /" 19mm; 6.03g. Antiochos VII (138-129 BC) Antioch on the Orontes Obv: Winged bust of Eros r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEni ANTIoxoy EYEPTEToy; Headdress of Isis. SC 2067.14. 14. * t 18mm; 5.56g; Oop (SE 179 = 134/3 BC). Demetrios II, second reign (129-125 BC) Damascus Obv: Diademed, bearded bust of Demetrios II; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEHI AHMHTPIoy OEoy N I KATopoi; Apollo standing 1., holding arrow in r. hand, resting r. hand on grounded bow. SC2183. 15. * T20mm;5.46g. Sidon Obv: Diademed head of Demetrios II; dotted border. Rev: II AflNoz OEAE; Astarte standing 1. on prow of galley 1., aplustre in r. hand, stylis or transverse trophy in 1.; in 1. field, ("of the Sidonians"); dotted border. SC2189. 16. * T 19;5.36g. Antiochos VIII (121-96 BC) Antioch on the Orontes Obv: Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEni ANTIoxoy En l«t>ANOYI; Eagle standing 1. on thunderbolt, sceptre behind shoulder. SC2300 or 2307-2308. 17. * T 18mm; 5. 69g. 247 Wright Uncertain Phoenicia or Koile Syrian mint, probably Ptolemais (Ake) Obv: Diademed bust of Antiochos VIII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEOI ANTIoxoy En l+ANOYI; Zeus Ouranios standing 1., holding sun or star in outstretched r. hand, sceptre in 1., crowned by crescent moon; dotted border. ■SC2342. 18. 18mm ; 6.48g ; in outer 1. field, hf 19.* T 18mm 4.49g in outer 1. field, HP 20. T 18 mm 4.63g in outer 1. field, hf 21. / 15 mm ; 3.50g , in outer 1. field, hf 22. T 17mm 3.50g in outer 1. field, hf 23. T 17mm 5.26g, in outer 1. field, hf 24. / 17mm ; 3.26g , in outer 1. field, hf 25. T 17mm, 3.78g, in outer 1. field, hf 26. T 16mm 4-llg; in outer 1. field, hf. 27. /* 15mm ; 4.89g , in outer 1. field, hf 28. t 17mm 6.3 lg; in outer 1. field, hf 29. 17mm, 5.32g; in outer 1. field, hf 30. 20mm; 4.95g; in outer 1. field, hf 31. 15mm, 3.86g; in outer 1. field, hf 32. /* 17mm ,4.15g , in outer 1. field, hf 33. 16mm; 4.58g; in outer 1. field, hf 34. 16mm; 3.47g; in outer 1. field, hf 35. 18mm; 5.50g. 36. 16mm; 5.07g. 37. 16mm; 3.48g. 38. 17mm; 3.99g. 39. 17mm 4.64g Newell, lacking any provenanced finds of this type preferred to leave the issue unattributed to any mint and the same lack of evidence has presumably led others to follow him.1 The occurrence of so many of this type within this hoard (8.99%) clearly confirms an attribution to a Koile Syrian or Phoenician mint. Given the overwhelming dominance of Damascene issues in the hoard (66.12%), a mint attribution of Damascus does suggest itself. However, while hf is never recorded at Damascus under any king, it does occur on undated silver issues of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos at neighboring Ptolemai's (Ake).2 It must be considered that the mint magistrate who signed the silver issues of Antiochos IX may be the same man who signed the bronze issue above for Antiochos VIII Grypos. It is known that the city passed from Grypos to Kyzikenos in 113 BC and hf may represent continuity, and indeed promotion, within the bureaucracy during this period.3 Other coins minted at Ptolemai's (Nos. 209-215) represent just 3.31% of the total hoard although the proximity of the city to the Damascus area should not have prohibited coin movement. The die axes exhibited by this issue of Grypos (between twelve and three o'clock) are compatible with those known from Ptolemai's but would suit Damascus (between ten o'clock and two o'clock) almost as well. Demetrios III (96-87 BC) Seleukeia in Pieria Obv: Diademed, bearded head of Demetrios III r.; fillet border. Rev: BAXIAEHI AHMHTPloy <t>l Aom HTopoi EYEPTEToy KAAAI N I KoY; Filleted thunderbolt on pulvinar; dotted border. SC 2477. 40.* T 23mm; 8.13g. 1 Z,Wpp. 77-78; SNG Spaer 2663-267'4; CSE 2, 757. 2 L5M48-49. ' Houghton and Museler (1990), p. 60. 248 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Damascus Obv: Radiate and diademed, bearded head of Demetrios III r.; dotted border. Rev: BAHAEnx AHMHTPIoy OEoy <t>l Aom HTopoz xnTHPox;Nike advancing r. holding wreath in outstretched r. hand, palm branch in 1.; dotted border. SC2454. 41. v 19mm; 4.50g; CIE (SE 216 = 97/6 BC). 42. T 20mm; 6.87g; in exergue, H; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 43. T 21mm; 4.88g; in outer 1. field,+1 above N I; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 44. /" 19mm; 8.53g; in outer 1. field, £P;II£(SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 45. T 21mm; 6.48g; in outer 1. field, AP; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 46. T 21mm; 5.34g; in outer 1. field, AP above N; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 47. T 19mm; 5.52g; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 48. v 19mm; 6.62g; in outer 1. field, <t>l; HIE (SE 218 = 95/4 BC). 49. t 19mm; 6.64g; in outer 1. field, N I; HIE (SE 218 = 95/4 BC). 50. T 20mm; 6.57g; in exergue, H; OI £ (SE 219 = 94/3 BC). 51. * v 21mm; 5.88g; in exergue, H; OI £ (SE 219 = 94/3 BC). 52. n 20mm; 6.57g; in exergue, H; OIE (SE 219 = 94/3 BC). 53. T 20mm; 6.20g; in outer 1. field, . 54. T 22mm; 5.35g; in outer 1. field, if. 55. T 20mm; 8.72g; in outer 1. field, Z\P. 56. T 21mm; 4.92g; in outer 1. field, ❖ above H. 57. T 19mm; 8.07g. 58. \ 18mm;6.26g. 59. 'V 18mm;6.74g. 60. T 18mm;6.42g. 61. T 20mm;6.74g. 62. n 19mm;6.53g. 63. t 20mm; 5.36g. 64. T 19mm; 6.13g. 65. t 21mm; 4.65g. 66. t 20mm;6.20g. 67. t 20mm;5.08g. 68. 20mm; 5.18g. Obv: Diademed, bearded head of Demetrios III r; dotted border. Rev: BAXIAEOX AHMHTPIoy OEoy + 1 Aorwopox XflTHPox; Hermes standing holding palm branch in r. hand, kerykeion in 1.; dotted border. SC 2455. 69. T 18mm 3.78g; in outer 1. field, ^ above A; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 70. T 18mm 4.15g; in outer 1. field, ^ above &; 11E (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 71. T 18 mm 3.56g; in exergue, H; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 72. t 19mm 4.37g; in outer 1. field, KH; HE (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 73. /" 19mm ;4.19g in outer 1. field, Z\P; 11E (SE 217 = 96/5 BC). 74. T 18mm 3.98g; in outer . field, <t>l above N. 75. T 18mm 4.15g; in outer . field, N above A. 76. T 19mm 5.31g; in outer . field,A above N. 77. T 19mm 4.30g. 78. T 19mm, 4.37g. 79. \ 18mm ,4.95g. 80. T 19mm, 5.08g. 81. t 20mm, 3.87g. 82. \ 18mm ,4.15g. 83. T 20mm; 3.24g. 84. /" 20mm , 4.60g. 85. \ 20mm , 4.60g. 86. T 18mm; 4.23g. 249 Wright 87. \ 21mm; 4.15 88. \ 18mm; 3.20 89. \ 19mm; 3.47 90. T 18mm; 3.44| 91. T 17mm; 3.44^ 92. \ 19mm; 2.89 Obv: Radiate and diademed, bearded head of Demetrios III r.; dotted border. Rev: BAXlAEnx ahmhtpioy OEoy <t>laomHTopoi mTHPoi; Hermes standing 1. on square basis holding kerykeion in r. hand, palm branch in I.; dotted border. SC 2456. 93. \ 18mm; 3.49g in outer 1. field, N I. 94. \ 19mm; 3.92g, in outer 1. field, 41. 95. \ 19mm; 5.76g, in outer 1. field, 41 above A 96. /» 18mm; 3.96g, in outer 1. field, A. 97. T 18mm;3.38g; in outer 1. field, 6 above A. 98. T 18mm; 4.40g; in outer 1. field, N. 99. T 18mm; 3.77g; in outer 1. field, N. 100. \ 18mm;5.09g in outer 1. field, N. 101. \ 18mm; 6.10g, in outer 1. field, N. 102.* \ 18mm; 3.93g, in outer 1. field, N. 103. \ 18mm; 5.32g in outer 1. field, N. 104. \ 19mm; 3.75g in outer 1. field, N. 105. T 18mm; 3.27g; in outer 1. field, N above 9. 106. \ 19mm; 3.48g in outer 1. field, N above 9. 107. t 18mm; 5.10g; in outer 1. field, N above A. 108. \ 18mm; 3.82g, in outer 1. field, N above A. 109. \ 18mm; 3.46g 110. \ 18mm;4.09g 111. \ 18mm; 4.64g 112. \ 21mm; 4.6lg 113. \ 18mm; 4.46g 114. \ 18mtn;4.08g. 115. \ 18mm; 3.5lg 116. T 18mm; 4.5lg. 117. T 19mm;4.81g. 118. T 18mm; 2.99g. 119. T 19mm; 6.02g. 120. T 19mm;4.32g. 121. \ 19mm; 3.48g 122. T 18mm;4.69g. 123. T 18mm; 3.96g. 124. T 20mm; 4.33g. 125. \ 18mm; 3.35g 126. \ 18mm; 3.92g 127. T 20mm; 4.13g. 128. T 19mm; 2.99g. 129. T 18mm; 4.33g. 130. \ 19mm; 3.95g 131. T 19mm; 2.93g. 132. \ 21mm; 3.86g 133. T 20mm; 4.25g. 250 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Antiochos XII (87-84 BC) Damascus Obv: Diademed head of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAIIAEni ANTIoxoy En I+ANOYI <t>l AonATopox K A A AI N I KOY; Tripod. SC 2475. 134.* T 14mm; 2.58g; in outer 1. field, small tripod. Obv: Diademed bust of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev; BAIIAEni ANTIoxoy En l*ANoYX 4>l AonATopox KAAAI N I KoY; Tyche standing 1. holding palm branch in r. hand, cornucopiae in 1.; dotted border. 135.* /» 23mm ; 6.90g ; in outer 1. field, dl 136. T 21 mm 9.32g , in outer 1 . field, 111. 137. T 20mm 6.97g , in outer 1 .field, ffl. 138. T 20mm 7.58g , in outer 1 .field, 11. 139. T 20mm 6.79g , in outer 1 .field, III. 140. T 21 mm, 8.02g , in outer 1 . field, A 141. T 21mm, 7.99g , in outer 1 .field, Itl. 142. T 21mm, 7.76g in outer 1 . field, Itl. 143. T 22mm 7.66g , in outer 1 .field, Itl. 144. T 21 mm 7.80g , in outer 1 .field, Itl. 145. T 20mm 7.02g , in outer 1 .field, Itl. 146. T 20mm, 6.95g , in outer 1 . field, Itl. 147. T 22mm, 8.30g 148. T 20mm, 7.81g 149. T 21 mm; 5.94g 150. 20mm , 5.67g 151. T 20mm; 5.67g Obv; Diademed head of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEni ANTIOXOY En 14-ANOYI <t>IAonATopoi KAAAI N I KoY; Apollo standing 1. holding palm branch in r. hand, resting 1. elbow on tripod; dotted border. SC 2477. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156.* 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. \ 8mm; 9mm; 8mm; 8 mm; 9mm; 18mm; 18mm: 6mm; 8mm; 8 mm; 8mm; 18 mm: 7mm; 8mm; 8mm; 7mm; 6mm; 8mm; 6mm; 3.66g; in outer 1. field, A. 4.0lg; in outer I. field, ill. 4.48g; in outer 1. field, ill. 6.33g; in outer 1. field, ill. 4.94g; in outer 1. field, dl. 4.39g; in outer 1. field, ill. 3.92g; in outer 1. field, dl. 3.06g; in outer 1. field, dl. 3.5lg; in outer 1. field, dl. 4.00g; in outer 1. field, dl. 3.83g; in outer 1. field, I. 3.12g; in outer 1. field, dl. 2.59g; in outer 1. field, N. 3.51g. 4.31g. 3.29g. 2.81g. 4.18g. 3.69g. 251 Wright Obv: Diademed head of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: Brockage of obverse type. cf.5C2477. 171.* T 17mm;3.73g. Obv: Diademed, bearded, draped bust of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEHZ ANTIoxoy En I+ANOYZ 4>l Aorwopoz KAAAINIKoY; Zeus Nikephoros standing 1. holding Nike in r. hand, sceptre in 1.; dotted border. SL 24/5. 172. T 22mm 6.12g; in exergue, [Tl. 173. T 20mm 6.64g; in exergue, (Tl. 174 23mm ; 6.44g in exergue, [Tl. 175.* T 20mm 4.66g; in outer 1. field, ftl 176. T 19mm 7.23g; in outer 1. field, [Tl 177. T 20mm 5.98g; in outer 1. field, [Tl 178 s 20mm ; 8.07g 179. T 21 mm 5.46g. 180. T 21mm, 7.15g. 181. T 19mm 8.36g. 182. T 20mm, 4.88g. 183. T 21mm, 6.30g. 184. T 20mm, 7.63g. 185. T 21 mm, 7.51g. 186. T 20mm, 7.80g. 187. t 20mm, 6.75g. 188. T 20mm, 5.92g. 189. T 19mm, 6.82g. 190. T 21mm; 6.92g. 191. T 21mm; 6.87g. 192. T 21mm; 6.41g. 193. T 21mm; 8.28g. 194. T 21mm; 6.62g. 195. T 21mm; 7.44g. Obv: Diademed, bearded head of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEHZ ANTIoxoy En I+ANoyz 4>lAorwopoz KAAAI N I Koy; Nike advancing r. holding wreath in r. hand, palm branch in 1.; dotted border. SC2479. 196. T 15mm; 3.15g. 197. * T 17mm;3.40g. 198. T 16mm; 3.06g. Obv: Diademed, bearded head of Antiochos XII r.; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEHZ ANTIoxoy Eni4>AN0YZ +lAonATopoz KAAAI N I KoY; Hermes standing 1. holding palm branch in r. hand, kerykeion in 1.; dotted border. SC2480. 199. T 13mm; 2. llg. 252 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Kleopatra Selene and Antiochos XIII (c. 84/3-69 BC) Probably Damascus Obv: Jugate busts of veiled Kleopatra Selene wearing stephane and diademed Antiochos XIII r.; dotted border. Rev: BACIAICCHC KAEon ATPAC CEAHNHC K AI BAIIAEHC ANTIoxoY +1 AoM HTPoC; Nike advancing 1. holding wreath in outstretched r. hand; dotted border. CSE 2, 824. 200. * T 20mm; 9.33g. This coin is only known from a single published example in the Houghton collection (CSE 2, 824). As on that example, the second omicron of <t>l AOM HTopoc has been omitted, presumably in error. Hoover assigned this type to Damascus based on epigraphic arguments concerning the reverse legend and its inclusion in this hoard tentatively supports a Damascene attribution.4 If we accept this coin to be an issue of a Damascene mint then the we can tighten the dating to fit between Aretas Ill's occupation of the city in 82 and that of Tigranes II in 72 BC. Aretas' Damascene coinage is abundant and may be assumed to have been issued over a number of years. The bronze coins of Kleopatra Selene and Antiochos XIII followed those of the Nabataean king, probably in the period c. 80-72 BC. Non-Seleukid Kings and Dynasts Macedonian Kingdom Philip V (221-179 BC) Uncertain Macedonian mint Obv: Laureate head of Zeus r. Rev: Horse and rider r., horse raising r. foreleg. SNG Alpha Bank 1094. 201. * \ 21mm; 5.03g. Ptolemaic Kingdom Ptolemy II or III (282-221 BC) Tyre Obv: Laureate head of Zeus-Sarapis r.; dotted border. Rev: TTOAEMAIOY BAIIAEOI; Eagle standing 1. on thunderbolt, sceptre over shoulder; dotted border. SNG Copenhagen (Egypt) 496-497 (Ptolemy II) or 502-503 (Ptolemy III). 202. * /* 20mm; 5.30g; in inner 1. field, club. Nabataean Kingdom Aretas III (c. 84-71 BC) Damascus Obv: Diademed head of Aretas III r. with long ringlets; dotted border. Rev: BAZIAEflZ APEToy 4>lAEAAHNox; Winged Tyche-Nike standing 1. extending r. hand, resting 1. on sceptre; dotted border. LSM 145; Meshorer (1975), p. 87, no. 8 . 203. * n 15mm;2.79g. 4 Hoover (2005), pp. 98-99; SC 2.1, p. 615. 253 Wright Hasmonaean Kingdom Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC) Jerusalem Obv: Anchor surrounded by circle. Rev: Illegible Aramaic legend; star within dotted circle. TJC, L7-14. 204. * T 13mm;0.92g. The obverse of this coin was misstruck and all definition of the anchor has been lost, leaving only a raised lump. There may also be traces of an obverse legend around the outer edge of the flan although these are impossible to define. This coin appears to fall into a group of barbarous imitations of TJC group L. As the prototype (LI-6) date to 80/79 BC, their imitations must postdate that year and may be posthumous.5 Ituraean Dynast of Massyas Ptolemaios, son of Mennaios (c. 85-40 BC) Chalkis under Libanos Obv: Laureate head of Zeus-Hadad r; dotted border. Rev: Two armed figures facing each other; wreath border. Herman (2006), 1. 205. * T 20mm; 5.53g; LMI (SE 240 = 73/2 BC). Autonomous Civic Issues Antioch on the Orontes (92-72 BC) Obv: Laureate bust of Zeus r.; dotted border. Rev: ANTIoxEHN THI M HTPonoAEOI; Zeus Nikephoros enthroned 1. holding Nike in r. hand, sceptre in 1. BMC Galatia (Antioch) 12. 206. * /" 19mm; 7.12g. 207. s 20mm;6.69g. 208. ^ 21mm;8.33g. Ptolemais (Ake) (125-117 BC) Obv: Jugate wreathed heads of the Dioskouri r.; dotted border. Rev: ANTIOXEHN ton EN n t oa E m aiaI i EPAI AXYAOY; Cornucopiae. LSM\2. 209. T 14mm; 1.87g; LIP (SE 190 = 122/1 BC). 210. * /" 12mm; 1.73g. 211. / 12mm; 1.57g. 212. t 12mm; 1.66g. 213. T 14mm; 2.16g. 214. T 15mm;2.71g. Obv: Blank. Rev: ANTIOXEON TflN EN n T oa E M aiAi I EPAI AZYAOY; Cornucopiae. cf.LSMU. 215. ? 11mm; 1.75g. 5 Ariel (2000-2), p. 109 n.62. 254 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Sidon (87-77 BC) Obv: Veiled and turreted head of Tyche r.; dotted border. Rev: IIAON ION; Tyche standing 1. on galley 1., aplustre in r. hand, stylis or transverse trophy in 1.; dotted border. Cf. Baramki (1974), 80. 216. * 21mm; 5.47g; LEK (Sidonian year 25 = 87/6 BC). Obv: Jugate heads of veiled and turreted Tyche and bearded male (Zeus?) r.; dotted border. Rev: ZIAHNoe OEAI; Galley 1.; in exergue, ^ir1* ("of the Sidonians"); dotted border. Cf. Baramki (1974), 94. 217. * s 22; 7.29g;LAA (Sidonian year 34 = 78/7 BC). Tyre (96 BC-c. 70 BC) Obv: Veiled and turreted head of Tyche r., palm branch behind shoulder; dotted border. Rev: I EPA-AX; Palm tree with two fruits; in exergue,ir'- ("of Tyre"); dotted border, cf. Baramki (1974), 1299. 218. * T 18mm; 3.14g; in inner r. field, ¥; LAA (Tyrian year 31 = 96/5 BC). 219. T 15mm; 3.17g; in inner r. field, ¥; NB (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). Obv: Veiled and turreted head of Tyche r., palm branch behind shoulder; dotted border. Rev: I EPAI; Galley 1.; in exergue, 11" ("of Tyre"); dotted border. Cf. Baramki (1974), 114. 220.* T 21mm; 6.95g; above, ¥; LAN (Tyrian year 51 = 76/5 BC) 221. T 20mm; 4.1 lg; above, ¥; NA (Tyrian year 51 = = 76/5 BC). 222. T 21mm; 5.57g; above, ¥; LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 223. T 20mm;5.05g; above, ¥; LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 224. T 21mm; 6.6lg; above, ¥; LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 225. 21mm;4.27g; above, ¥; LBN (Tyrian year 52 - = 75/4 BC). 226. t 22mm; 6.55g; above, ¥; LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 227. /" 23mm; 7.17g above, ¥ LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 228. /» 20mm; 6.02g above, ¥ LBN (Tyrian year 52 = 75/4 BC). 229. T 20mm; 9.56g; above, ¥. 230. T 22mm; 5.16g; above, ¥. 231. T 19mm; 6.72g; above, ¥. 232. T 22mm; 5.57g; above, ¥. 233. /" 22mm; 7.28g above, ¥ 234. \ 20mm; 4.96g above, ¥ 235. T 22mm; 4.85g; above, ¥. 236. T 20mm; 5.43g; above, 237. T 20mm; 7.20g; above, 238. T 19mm; 5.42g; above, ¥. 239. T 21mm; 6.70g; above, ¥. 240. T 21mm; 5.00g; above, ¥. 241. T 22mm; 10.28g; above, ¥ 242. T 20mm; 6.54g; above, ¥. Unidentifiable worn flans 243. ? 14;2.75g. 244. ? 14;2.97g. 255 Wright Uncertain lead issue Obv: Bearded male head r. (Zeus?). Rev: Eagle standing I., wings closed. Hoover (2008), p. 81, no. 2. *245. \ 18mm;4.27g. This lead issue has been linked to a bronze issue of Ptolemy X Alexander I and Kleopatra III (c. 107-101 BC) (Svoronos 1733). However, this attribution raises stylistic problems and the obverse head lacks the ram horns of Zeus Amnion present on the Ptolemaic bronze. The combination of Zeus Ammon / eagle is a common Ptolemaic type but the lead issue is also reminiscent of Ptolemaios of Chalkis' Zeus-Hadad / eagle type (Herman 7) although the Ituraean eagle is flying rather than standing. At least five examples of this lead issue are known from Levantine contexts and its appearance in this hoard certainly does not support an Egyptian mint. The issue was perhaps produced in imitation of the Ptolemaic type by one of the autonomous dynasts who controlled much of the Levant during the late first century BC, although why such a type would be imitated in the region is unclear. Hoover suggests the issue may have been an emergency coinage produced en-route to Damascus by Ptolemy X during the so-called War of Sceptres (103-101 BC) and that the generic iconography was designed to allude to Ptolemaic types while remaining inoffensive to his ally Antiochos VIII Grypos.6 Provenance Unfortunately, the precise location of the burial site of the Late Seleukid hoard has been lost. How- ever, the composition of the hoard is most instructive (see figures 1 and 2 and table 1). Two thirds of the coins (66.12%) can be firmly attributed to a Damascus mint. The next largest concentration of coins (14.05%) was minted at Tyre and after that, at an uncertain Koile-Syrian or Phoenician mint (9.50%). The number of coins in the hoard minted at Antioch, the great metropolis of Syria, is negligible—amounting to a low 3.31%. The only vaguely comparable hoard that has been pub- lished to date was recovered from Nisibis in Mesopotamia and dated by Seyrig to shortly after 31 BC.7 The Nisibis hoard consisted of 623 bronze coins from as far afield as Thessaly, Anatolia, Armenia and the Levant along with a single silver Roman denarius. Among the Levantine coins in the Nisibis hoard were 171 Seleukid royal issues from the reign of Seleukos IV to Antiochos XII and numerous autonomous city issues of which the bulk (214 examples) came from Antioch on the Orontes. The total percentage of coins from Antioch within the Nisibis hoard totalled 69.98%. The preponderance of Antiochene issues found in the Nisibis hoard tie in well with what is known from coins found during archaeological excavations in the region. Evidence from Syrian sites from as far south (and east) as Dura Europos show that coins minted at Antioch on the Orontes comprised the vast majority of all Hellenistic coins in circulation in Seleukid controlled Syria. This trend was highlighted by Nixon who noted that at Antioch itself, Antiochene issues unsurprisingly comprised 90% of all finds. Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates river saw similar proportions with An- tioch producing 85% of its coins and at Dura Europos, 93% of the site finds were minted in the Syrian metropolis.8 If the monetary supply in north Syria and even Mesopotamia was dominated by the mint of Antioch, the meagre impact of Antioch on this hoard confirms that it must originate somewhere in Phoenicia or Koile Syria. In contrast to the northern and eastern sites, published south Levantine sites have yielded much smaller numbers of coins. 167 coins of Hellenistic date have been found at Pella in Jordan, south of Damascus.9 Of the 20 Seleukid examples excavated between 1979 and 1990, seven (35%) were minted in Damascus. Of the remaining attributable coins, six (30%) were produced at Antioch and two (10%) at Tyre. However, of the 17 municipal or civic issues, 13 (76.47%) were produced 6 Hoover (2008), pp. 81-85. 7 Seyrig (1955). 8 Nixon (2002); Nixon (2006). "Sheedye/a/. (2001), p. 10. 256 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Figure 1. Map showing mints represented in the hoard. at Ptolemai's (Ake), three (17.65%) at Tyre and only one (5.88%) at Antioch.10 The proportions of Damascene and Phoenician issues found in the Pella excavations are a closer reflection of those noted in the Late Seleukid hoard than those from the northern sites. Although it appears that Ptolemai's provided the main source of coinage, this maybe an over representation due to the small diameter (and therefore ease of loss) of that city's civic issues. Of the 34 Hellenistic coins recorded in the 1928-1934 excavations at Jerash, 25 were from the neighboring Nabataean and Hasmonaean kingdoms, one from Seleukid Damascus and the remainder from Phoenicia, principally Tyre (three or 8.82%o) and Ptolemai's (two or 5.88%)." 377 coins of Hellenistic date were recovered from 10 Sheedy el al. (2001), pp. 70-75. " Bellinger (1938), pp. 8-9. 257 Wright 10 --------------- <r <* <s> <° ^ <s 1.1 H%LS. hoard u% Nisibis hoard cp ;<» <-f> Figure 2. Mints represented in comparison with the Nisibis hoard. the rural site of Qalandiya outside of Jerusalem. There were eight Ptolemaic coins (three from Alexandreia, five from Tyre) and 16 Antiochene issues of Antiochos III. Following the Seleukid conquest of Koile Syria and the establishment of Seleukid mints in the south, the pattern changes completely with 22 late Seleukid coins from Ptolemai's, two from Tyre and two from Seleukid Jerusalem. There were a further 315 coins from Hasmonaean Jerusalem.12 The comparable nature of the Late Seleukid hoard to these southern sites strongly suggests a southern burial location. The domination of Damascus (at least 66.51%), Tyre (14.05%) and Ptolemai's (up to 14.72% if nos. 18-39 are included) probably locates the burial somewhere be- tween these three sites. A burial directly between the three, in the Ituraean controlled Massyas (the modern Beqa'a valley) might be expected to include more Ituraean issues. The proportion of Damascene coins precludes a burial location along the coast whilst the late Hellenistic cultural and political hegemony of Tyre over the Hula Valley lends further credence to the circulation of Tyrian bronzes away from the Mediterranean.13 Burial Date The latest firmly datable coin is no. 205, a slightly worn bronze of the Ituraean tetrarch Ptolemaios minted at Chalkis under Libanos. The date on the piece, a barely discernible LMI, places the coin in year 240 of the Seleukid era, 73/2 BC. This large Ituraean series appears to be the earliest out- put of the tetrarchy. Thereafter Ptolemaios produced predominantly undated pieces except for a series in 63/2 BC, although none of these later issues are present in the hoard. It is important to remember that the worn state of coin no. 205 need not mean that the issue was in circulation for a long time, merely that it was handled frequently during the time of use. Suffice to say, we are thus given a terminus post quern for the burial of the hoard of 72 BC. The hoard does include 14 Tyrian coins where the date is not visible, and the Kleopatra Selene and Antiochos XIII joint issue which may post-date 72, although if they do it could not be by too many years. The Tyrian coins all share the same type and have a state of wear similar to the dated issues, so probably date around the same period. Any issue in the name of Kleopatra Selene must pre-date her death in 69 BC (Strabo 16.2.3) but could be earlier. Any burial later than 72/1 might be expected to contain more issues of the Ituraean tetrarch Ptolemaios or at least some coins of Tigranes II. It is probably safe to ascribe a burial date for the hoard to 72/1 or shortly thereafter. 12 Ariel (2004): pp. 150-162. 13 Berlin (1997), p. 84. 258 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard Mints represented in hoard 0/ i c |ww» m~A /o JL.is. noarci °/o Nisibis hoard Rome a u f\ 1 q u. iy Greece/Macedonia A A 1 U. 1 y Cyprus A u V.Jy Phrygia and Pontos A V.jy Armenia a U 1 1 zl Z. 1 4 Ko mm a gene a U U. /o iviiiKia a U 1 .jo Antioch on the Orontes 0 flA Seleukeia in Pieria A A u. iy Apameia on the Orontes u n l q Laodikeia by the Sea u \J. 1 7 Arados a u j. j l Si don i .z4 A 1 Q u. iy Tyre 14.Uj A Ptolemais (Ake) j. // A 1 q u. i y Uncertain mint in Phoenicia or Koile Syria i 11 j. i / Damascus OO.J i ~l "7A Chalkis under Libanos A A 1 U.4 i a u Samaria a (j u.jy jei usdJcJii yj.H i U.J7 Seleukeia on the Tigris 0 14.04 Antioch in Sittakene 0 0.19 Ekbatana 0.41 0 Parthia 0 0.19 Table 1. Attributable mints. The year 72/1 BC marked the capture of Damascus by Tigranes II of Armenia and the start of production there of royal coin issues in his name.14 The decades either side of this date were cer- tainly chaotic, combining the collapse of the Seleukid house, the rise of the native dynasts and the invasion and withdrawal of Tigranes II. Any one of these events may have caused the burial of this hoard and the demise (or deportation) of the owner. Circulation This is the first investigation of a hoard of this type from Hellenistic Koile Syria and as such, the information drawn from its content cannot at this stage be tested properly against other data. However, the survival of this hoard as a single unit still provides an interesting insight into the nature of perceived legitimacy within the Seleukid royal house. It can be assumed that the Late Seleukid hoard represents a sample of the pool of currency in circulation at the time of burial, probably shortly after 72 BC. A somewhat surprising aspect of the hoard is the lack of coins issued by 'illegitimate' kings. Obviously the bulk of coinage in circulation in and around Damascus im- mediately during the collapse of the Seleukid dynasty was composed of the latest Seleukid issues from the city. Of the 200 Seleukid coins, 160 (80.00% of the total) were produced by Demetrios III and Antiochos XII with all but one of those from Damascus. Then, as would be expected, the next largest proportion of coins still in circulation was issued by their father, Antiochos VIII with 23 coins (11.50%). Thereafter the number of coins per preceding ruler drops away dramatically until the last quarter of the third century BC. If the chronic dynastic feuding within the house during the second and first centuries BC is laid out schematically it becomes clear that the coins represented in the hoard came almost ex- 14 LSM 147-153. 259 Wright Seleukos I Nikalor 312-281 BC Anliothos 1 Soter Achaios 294-261 BC j Aniocnos II Theos Andromachos 261-246 BC ! Seleukos II Kaflmi 2-16-225 BC os Antioehos Hierax Achaios 246-227 BC 220-214 [ " " Seleukos 111 Soter 225-223 BC Antioehos III (he Great 223-187 BC Seleukos IV Phrtopator 137-175 BC Antioehos IV Epiphanes 175-164 BC 1-1-1 Antioehos Demetrios 1 Sole I 175-170 BC 162-150 BC I--'--- I ' I Antioehos V Eupator Alexander I Ba'as 164-162 BC 150-145 BC Demetrios II Nikator 145-140; 129-125 BC r—'—i i Antioehos VII Sidetes 138-129 BC j [ Antioehos VI Oionyscs Alexander M Zabmas 145-142 BC 128-123 BC SeleuKos V Antioehos VIII Grypos 125 BC 125-96 BC I Antioehos IX Kyi-stenos 115-95 8c Demelrios III Eukairos 96.87 BC SeieiAos VI Eprphanes Antioehos XI Pimadelphos 95-94 BC g4 BC Philip I Phi'adelphos Antioehos XII Oionysos Anliochos X Eusetjes 94-73 BC 87-84 BC 95-92'83 BC l Phi'ip II Philoromaios Antioehos XIII Asialikos 69. 65-64 BC 63-64 BC 1 Seleukos VII Phi'onie!orCi 60-76 BC I Ptolemaic-born dowager queens) (Non-Seleufcid usurpers) Kleopalra Thea Kloopalro Selene 125-121 BC 83-69 BC Mo!on Tiniatchos 222-220 BC 162 BC Diodoios Tryphon Tigranes 11 of Armenia 142-138 BC 72-69 BC Figure 3. Genealogy of the Seleukid kings. Those present in the hoard are marked in bold. clusively from the senior branch of the Seleukids (figures 3 and 4 and table 2). Of the Epiphanaic kings, it is only Antioehos IV Epiphanes himself who is definitely represented. No coins issued by those kings who drew their legitimacy from Antioehos IV are present in the hoard (with the pos- sible exception of no. 7), even though kings like Alexander I Balas were based (at least initially) at Ptolema'is (Ake) and produced a plentiful supply of coinage in their Phoenician and Koile Syrian mints.15 In posterity, Antioehos IV may have been considered a legitimate successor to his brother Seleukos IV. After all, of Seleukos' two sons, one (Demetrios I) was a hostage in Rome and the other (Antioehos the son) a minor. Epiphanes was the most senior adult representative of the royal house in a position to rule the kingdom and was obviously popular with the Syrian population.16 Epiphanes left a minor (Antioehos V) as his successor and the throne once more ultimately passed back to the senior branch of the family in the person of Demetrios I. Although descendants or at least alleged descendants of Antioehos Epiphanes were to make claims for the kingship for the next four decades, the senior branch of the Seleukids always provided a 'legitimate' alternative. How- ever, it is worth noting that Antioehos IV Epiphanes may have been fictionally included among the ancestors of Antioehos VIII Grypos at the Hierothesion on Nemrud Dag and in the first century BC he may have been claimed as a forebear by the senior branch of the Seleukidai.17 In similar fashion, although Antioehos VII Sidetes is represented by a coin in the Late Seleu- kid hoard (No. 14), all but one of his descendants are not. Antioehos VII assumed the diadem dur- ing the Parthian captivity of his elder brother Demetrios II Nikator. At the time of his accession, the only rival claimant to the Syrian throne was the non-Seleukid usurper Diodotos Tryphon. Sidetes was "not only opportune but able"18 and as luck would have it, died weeks after his brother's release and thus at no time could be considered an illegitimate ruler. Like Epiphanes, Antioehos Sidetes left a line of royal claimants who once more engaged in endemic skirmishes with their cousins, the sons and grandsons of Demetrios II. Where Sidetes had been a successful necessity and the son of a legitimate king, his descendants were rivals to the senior branch of the Seleukid house. 151 Mace. 10.55-60; Bellinger (1949b), p. 56. 16 App. Syr. 45; Athen. 5.193d; Livy 41.20-21; Polyb. 30.25-26. "Dorner (1967), pp. 208-209. 18 Bellinger (1949b), pp. 57-58. 260 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard H%LS. hoard u % Nisibis hoard Figure 4. Seleukid kings represented in comparison with the Nisibis hoard. With one exception (Antiochos XIII), their coin issues are distinctly absent from the hoard. The absence is made more surprising considering the proportion of coins produced by Antiochos VIII Grypos (senior branch, 11.50%) compared to his contemporary and rival Antiochos IX Kyzikenos (junior branch, 0%) even though Kyzikenos certainly held Damascus for several years and may have established his capital at neighboring Ptolema'is (Ake) for part of his reign—he only held Antioch in 113-112, 110/09 and following Grypos' death in 96-95 BC.19 The single coin minted by a descendant of Antiochos VII Sidetes that does appear (No. 200) was issued during a time of great turmoil in Syria. The continual hemorrhaging of the kingdom through civil war ultimately brought the annexation of the remaining Seleukid territories by Ti- granes II of Armenia (not featured in the hoard). The last Seleukid opposition to Tigranes was maintained by Kleopatra Selene and her sons in the south of the country, probably including Damascus.20 At the time of the coregency issue of Kleopatra Selene and Antiochos XIII, the pair probably represented the only viable Seleukid claimants to the throne and may very well have controlled Damascus. That this hoard coincidentally survived with no coins of illegitimate Seleukid rulers is highly unlikely. The lack of illegitimate Seleukid coins may be accounted for by possible tampering with the hoard before its sale, but the removal of all such coins whilst leaving some rare and unusual types intact with the rest of the hoard again appears unlikely. One plausible explanation is that at some stage, a governing body of some sort, most likely royal, actively pursued a policy of with- drawing coins issued by its rivals and its rivals' forbears from circulation. There may have been a wider strategy for the erasure of its rival's works, a sort of Seleukid damnatio memoriae, although it is only from the Late Seleukid hoard that we have any evidence of such a policy. Whether the numismatic exclusion was achieved through recalling certain coin issues and restamping them, or just the refusal of the governing body to accept such coins as valid currency, this type of policy could only be carried out by a force with firm control on the population. As an act of propaganda, it would be an unlikely action to be taken by either autonomous civic authorities, or one of the post-Seleukid dynasts. Rather, this appears to be a royal Seleukid notion. To the author's knowledge, no such actions have been recorded elsewhere in the Seleukid 19 Houghton and Museler (1990); Hoover (2007), p. 286. 20 Jos. AJ 13.419-421; Hoover (2005), pp. 98-99. 261 Wright ociciiKiu Kings rcprcscnicU in nudru /o Ij.o. noaru /o iMSiois iioara Seleukos I Nikator a u a u Antiochos I Soter a u a u Antiochos II Theos a u a u Seleukos II Kallinikos a u a u Antiochos Hierax U a u Seleukos III Soter a U a u Seleukos III or Antiochos III a ^o U. JU a u Antiochos III the Great 1 aa l .uu a u Seleukos IV Philopator a U 1 1 a 1.1 u Antiochos the Son a u a u Antiochos IV Epiphanes i ^a 1. jU 1 .oo Antiochos V Eupator a U a U Demetrios I Soter a ^a U. jU 1 .DO Alexander I Balas a U a ao u.Uo Demetrios II Nikator (1st reign) z. jU a <^ U.j j Antiochos VI Dionysos a u 1.00 Diodotos Tryphon a u U.J J Antiochos VII Sidetes 0 ^a U. jU 0 0/1 Demetrios II Nikator (2lld reign) i aa U.J J Alexander II Zabinas a U z.z 1 Kleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII a u 1 AA 1.00 Antiochos VIII Grypos 1 1 ^a 11. jU koi Antiochos IX Kyzikenos U 1 a zz. 1U Seleukos VI Epiphanes a U a U Antiochos X Eusebes a U a U Demetrios III Eukairos /iT aa 4/.[)[) ^ ^A J.JO Antiochos XI Philadelphos a U a U Philip I Philadelphos a u a U n no J .o / Tigranes II 0 6.08 Kleopatra Selene & Antiochos XIII 0.50 0 Kleopatra Selene & Seleukos VII (?) 0 0 Antiochos XIII Asiatikos 0 0 Table 2. Reigns. kingdom. Certainly there is no evidence suggested by the site finds at Antioch, Dura Europos or Jebel Khalid, nor in the bronze hoard from Nisibis (see Table 2).21 The small number of coins from south Levantine excavations makes it difficult to assess their value in this sort of comparison but of the 20 Seleukid coins published from Pella in Jordan, 18 were issues of kings here considered 'legitimate' but two (or 10%) were Antiochene issues of Alexander II, a descendant of Antiochos Epiphanes.22 At Samaria, 66 Seleukid coins were found during excavations. The pattern of kings again follows closely that of the Late Seleukid hoard except that here too, Alexander II was pres- ent, represented by four coins or 6.06% of the Seleukid total.23 At Jerash, only two Seleukid pieces were recorded by Bellinger, one from Sidon under Antiochos VII and one of Demetrios III from Damascus.24 The small quantity of the evidence makes it difficult to assess the implications of such material. With the exception of the presence of Alexander IPs issues at Pella and Samaria, the southern site finds are in line with the evidence from the Late Seleukid hoard. This makes it 21 Antioch: Waage (1952), pp. 3-23; Dura Europus: Bellinger (1949a), pp. 1-6; Jebel Khalid: Nixon (2002), pp. 305-325; Nixon (2006), pp. 92-96; Nisibis: Seyrig (1955). 22 Sheedy et al. (2001), p. 71. 23 Fulco and Zayadine (1981), pp. 206-208. 24 Bellinger (1938), 11 and 64. 262 Late Seleukid Bronze Hoard- all the more surprising that even Alexander II is absent in the Late Seleukid hoard. It may be that any exclusion of illegitimate issues was a localised action taken by Demetrios III or Antiochos XII to consolidate their rule over a principality which comprised only Damascus and its immediate hinterland. However, the hoard contains no obvious overstrikes to support the idea of a reissuing of alien currency and the reasoning behind the absence of any 'illegitimate' coin issues circulating within the currency of Damascus in the early to mid first century BC must remain speculative. What is also instructive is the apparent readiness to adopt non-Seleukid civic issues as ac- ceptable currency. While 200 of the coins (81.63%) were Seleukid regal issues, the majority of the remainder, (38 coins or 15.51%) were autonomous issues of Antioch or Phoenicia. With the exception of the coins of Tyre, the civic types can all be categorized as pseudo-autonomous, that is, they were issued by civic bodies still technically subject to the Seleukid kings often in parallel with royal silver (as at Antioch) or silver and bronze issues (as at PtolemaTs). The fully autonomous, civic coinage of Tyre (with clearly dated issues down until 75/4 BC) appears to have been adopted as a substitute for Seleukid royal issues following the death of Antiochos XII. However, one thing that is puzzling about this phenomenon is the lack of civic issues from Demetrias.25 It has commonly been held that in the later years of Seleukid rule in Damascus, the city was renamed Demetrias in honour of one of the Seleukid kings, most likely Demetrios III.26 As is clearly obvious in the catalogue, issues of Demetrios III form the largest component of the hoard (47.24%). If Damascus was issuing municipal coinage as Demetrias in parallel to its regal series during this period or even during the reign of Antiochos XII, they might be expected to feature in this hoard. In CSE 2, the listed Demetrias issue was removed from the period of royal control and the suggestion was made that the coins should be seen as true civic issues.27 This poses chronological problems as to when such coins may have been minted. In 83/2 BC Antiochos XII died and Damascus opened its gates to Aretas III in preference to the Ituraean tetrarch Ptolemaios.28 Aretas must have held the city for several years to enable him to strike his own Damascene coins. Presumably Damascus then fell into the hands of Kleopatra Selene and Antiochos XIII sometime between c. 80 and 72 BC when Tigranes captured the city. Neither Aretas, Selene, nor Tigranes would have any reason to allow the city to strike under a dynastic name that harked back to the rival branch of the Seleukids, still alive in the person of Philip II. Some Demetrias issues share the Tyche of Damascus reverse type shown on the Damascene issues of Aretas and Tigranes and it may be possible that these kings adopted a current civic type rather than its Seleukid royal coun- terpart when they acquired the city.29 Regardless, we are still left with a curious political problem regarding the chronology of the Demetrias issues and their absence from this hoard. By 68 BC, Damascus was producing civic coins bearing the ethnic A AM A IK, thereby invalidating the argu- ment that the Demetrias issues may post-date the burial of this hoard.30 The Late Seleukid hoard illustrates the types of low value bronze coinage in circulation around Damascus during the first few decades of the first century BC. It appears from the hoard evidence that during this period, in what was to be the closing phase of the Seleukid kingdom, concepts of succession and legitimacy drove the authorities to prevent the circulation of issues produced by rival Seleukid kings. At the same time, these Damascene Seleukids were apparently willing to accept issues of neighboring kingdoms and autonomous cities as valid currency. The hoard allows for the illustration of a new type, no. 7 (Seleukid Tyre) while the overall composition provides the likely attribution of nos. 18-39 (probably PtolemaTs (Ake) or perhaps Damascus), 199 (confirming the probable Damascene attribution) and 200 (Damascus). 25 BMC Gcdcitici (Damascus), 1-3. 26 Cohen (2006), pp. 242-245. 27 CSE 2, 843. 28 Bellinger (1949b), p. 78. 29 LSM 151-152; Bedoukian (1978), p. 21. 30 Cohen (2006), pp. 242-243. 263 Wright Bibliography Ariel (2002) Ariel (2004) Baramki (1974) Bedoukian (1978) Bellinger (1938) Bellinger (1949a) Bellinger (1949b) Berlin (1997) Cohen (2006) D6rner(1967) Fulco and Zayadine(1991) Spijkerman (1978) Herman (2006) Hoover (2005) Hoover (2007) Hoover (2008) Houghton and Miiseler(1990) Meshorer(1975) Nixon (2002) Nixon (2006) Seyrig(1955) Sheedy et al. (2001) Waage(1952) Ariel, D. T. "The Jerusalem mint of Herod the Great: A Relative chronology." INJ 14 (2000-2): 99-124. Ariel, D. T. "The Coins from Qalandiya." In The Land of Benjamin. Jerusalem, 2004. Pp.145-177. Baramki, D. C. The Coin Collection of the American University of Beirut Museum: Palestine and Phoenicia. Beirut, 1974. Bedoukian, P. Z. Coinage of the Artaxiads of Armenia. London, 1978. Bellinger, A. R. Coins from Jerash, 1928-1934. New York, 1938. Bellinger, A. R. 77?e Excavations at Dura-Europos conducted by Yale University and the French Academy of Inscriptions and Letters, Final Report VI: The Coins. New Haven, 1949. Bellinger, A. R. "The end of the Seleucids." Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 38 (1949): 51-102. Berlin, A. M. "From monarchy to markets: The Phoenicians in Hellenistic Palestine." 306 (1997): 75-88. Cohen, G. M. The Hellenistic Settlements in Syria, the Red Sea Basin, and North A frica Berkeley, 2006. Dorner, F. K. 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