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Auction: 23007 - Ancient Coins Including the 'Kyrios' Collection of Greek Coins and featuring the 'Ostorius' Collection of Roman Gold
Lot: 125

The 'Kyrios' Collection | Seleukid Kingdom of Syria, Tryphon (142-138 BC) AR Tetradrachm, Antioch-on-the-Orontes, diademed head right, rev. BASILEOS TRYPHONOS/AUTOKRATOROS Macedonian helmet with ibex-horn, monogram on left, all within oak-wreath, 16.93g (Newell SMA 264), exceptional, beautifully-struck and toned, a wonderful example of a great rarity, about extremely fine, not to be missed

PROVENANCE

From the Collection of the late Reverend D. R. Steele, sold as the 'John Marshall Collection' through Spink in 2009:

Spink 198, 19 March 2009, lot 302, 'rare, exceptional, extremely fine', £7,200

Sotheby's, 'Coins, Medals and Banknotes', 15 October 1998, lot 48, 'good very fine and rare'


Diototus Tryphon was a serial traitor. First a general under Alexander I Balas, he surrendered Antioch to Ptolemy VI of Egypt during the civil war between Alexander and Demetrius II Nicator and offered him the throne. Ptolemy was forced to abandon this position out of fear of provoking Roman military intervention, and supporting Demetrius' claim, Tryphon de facto emerged on the side of Demetrius II.

This, however, was not to last as he launched a rival bid for the throne by supporting Antiochus the five year-old son on Alexander, taking advantage of the lack of support for Demetrius in the army. By 144, Tryphon had defeated Demetrius installing Antiochus VI Dionysus as Seleukid king.
Tryphon's fickle loyalties became apparent once more in 142 BC when the young king died under mysterious circumstances, facilitating Tryphon's more open power grab, styling himself as Tryphon Autokrator - literally 'self-ruler' a fitting title for such a duplicitous usurper. Needless to say, such a blatant epithet was never repeated and remains unique to Tryphon.

Tryphon, the only successful extra-dynastic Seleukid usurper, sought to distance himself from the dynasty highlighting this break in his coinage. Both portraiture with his flowing hair and the reverse type with the Macedonian helmet with its elaborate ibex-horn bear strikingly little resemblance to previous Seleukid coinage.

His reign was, however, short-lived. In 138, he was defeated at Antioch, Dor and finally at his hometown of Apamea by Antiochos VII Sidetes, the brother of Demetrius II. The Seleukid kingdom would be retained by the Seleukids and Tryphon was either executed or committed suicide by 138.

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Sold for
£11,000

Starting price
£6000