Side Pamphylia AR Tetradrachm c. -200 to -190 Athena Nike Seleukid Counterstamp
Side, Pamphylia, AR Tetradrachm, circa -200 to -190
$355.00SNG France 682-4; SNG von Aulock -.
Obv.: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
Rev.: Nike advancing left, holding wreath; pomegranate above ΔH (magistrate) in left field.
16.13 g
27.3 mm
Seleukid anchor counterstamp on reverse in the right field.
This coin is an Attic standard tetradrachm, the weight standard adopted by Phillip II of Macedon that spread rapidly with the expansion of the Macedonian Empire and increased use of money in the Greek world, over 300 years of the Hellenistic period. The placement of the countermark on these coins is mostly (not exclusively) standardized with this location behind Nike and a second option on the bowl of Athena's helmet on the obverse. (cf. sullacoins.com)
It would seem likely that this commonly found mark was applied officially to 'foreign' coins that were sanctioned to circulate in the Seleukid kingdom. An interesting study could be done by recording the types and weights of coins found with this mark. Still we would not know if the coins were stamped for some particular use or simply to give them equal footing with the normal tetradrachms of the kingdom. (cf. forumancientcoins.com)
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In stock