LATE SELEUCID MINTS IN AKE-PTOLEMAIS AND DAMASCUS: Editio nova

Athens, 2019 (released 2021). Re-edition of a classical work with new typesetting. Edited and published by Demetrius Siatras. Soft cover, 24 cm, 136 pp., ill. (17 plates); net weight 335 gr. ISBN: 978-618-82459-9-0.


As province after province fell, or was forcibly taken away from the declining Seleucid empire, certain minor mints grew in importance as useful subsidiaries of the great central establishment at Antioch. Their activity even increased when the shrunken core of the once mighty empire commenced to break into parts during the fratricidal wars between the last of the Seleucid scions. This book presents and discusses the issues of two of these mints particularly active during the last half-century of Seleucid domination: Ake-Ptolemais and Damascus.
Ake-Ptolemais is first known as a Seleucid mint by the issue of local bronze coins bearing the portrait of Antiochus V, but it mostly known for the series of "Ptolemaic" tetradrachms with the eagle on the reverse struck under the influence exercised over Palestine and Phoenicia by the Ptolemies.
Damascus first comes into numismatic prominence with the capture of the city by Parmenion and the establishment there of a very active mint. This activity continued under Alexander's immediate successors. Thereafter the mint went into a temporary decline. Ptolemaic issues for the city are rare, or quite uncertain. Later, the city gradually revived to become once more the most important inland centre of trade and government of all the Syrian hinterland. It is not, however, until the reign of Antiochus VII that its coin issues become sufficiently obvious for us to recognize them with certainty. But from that time forward they continue, almost without interruption, until the very end of Seleucid rule and the acquisition of Damascus by the Nabataeans.




CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

I. AKE-PTOLEMAIS
Demetrius II, second reign 129–126 BC
Cleopatra, sole reign 126–125 BC
Cleopatra & Antiochus VIII, 125–121 BC
Antiochus VIII Grypus, first reign 121/120–114/113 BC
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, first reign 113–108 BC

II. DAMASCUS
Antiochus VII, 138–129 BC
Demetrius II, second reign in Damascus 129–126/125 BC
Alexander II Zebina, 125–123 BC
Cleopatra & Antiochus VIII, 122–120 BC
Antiochus VIII, first reign 120–113 BC
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, first rule 113 – ca. 109 BC
Antiochus VIII Grypus, second reign, after 109 BC
Demetrius III, 96–87 BC
Antiochus XII, 88–84 BC
Aretas III, ca. 84–72 BC
Tigranes, 72–69 BC

TABULAR SURVEY
HYPOMNEMA
PLATES



IMPORTANT: This is a new edition with excellent new typesetting, printed in first quality paper - not a cheap facsimile reprint or a print on demand copy!