Antiochos VII / Athena. Greek Silver Tetradrachm Coin Cappadocian Kingdom

  
ANTIOCHOS VII SILVER TETRADRACHM COIN. Issue of Cappadocian Kingdom, under Ariarathes VII. Silver Tetradrachm 28mm, 16.32g.

Larger and over twice as heavy than a U. Quarter which is 24mm and only 5.7gm. Posthumous issue of Cappadocian Kingdom.

Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochus VII right, bead-and-reel border. EOS / ANTIOXOY / EYEP-GETOY. In Greek, Athena standing facing, head left, left hand on grounded shield decorated with gorgoneion, spear resting against arm, Nike in right hand facing right, crowning royal epithet;? I monogram above A in outer left field, O-?

Across inner fields; all within laurel wreath. The son of Demetrius I and brother of Demetrius II, both kings of the Seleucid state of Syria, Antiochus VII spent his youth in the Greek islands. In 141, his brother was captured while fighting the Parthians. Cleopatra Thea, Demetrius II's queen, meanwhile was regent; but a usurper, Tryphon, had risen and threatened to seize full power. At this point, Antiochus VII, an energetic prince, arrived in Syria (139), married Cleopatra Thea, and put Tryphon to flight. A passage in the Bible (I Maccabees 14:1-14) suggests that he first assured himself of the neutrality of possible opponents, such as Judah. By 138, Antiochus had ended Tryphon's career, and he delivered an ultimatum to the Jews to acknowledge him as overlord.

When they refused, he sent one army against them, which was defeated, and, later, in 135/134, he himself led a siege, which captured Jerusalem. Internal dissension among the leaders of Judah aided him. Antiochus razed Jerusalem's walls and made John Hyrcanus, who had recently assumed leadership, his vassal.

Rejecting suggestions to exterminate the Jews, he appointed Hyrcanus high priest and allowed religious autonomy. With Palestine secured, Antiochus set out to restore his forefathers' eastern realm. With enthusiastic support from the Hellenized cities he drove the Parthians from Mesopotamia and invaded Media. The Parthians, perhaps hopeful of stirring up civil war behind him, released Antiochus' brother, who had been a prisoner since 141.

In early 129 the Parthians made a surprise attack on the Seleucid winter quarters and slew Antiochus, who left five children by his queen. Syria lapsed into civil war, with all hopes of empire gone. OUR GUARANTEE: All illustrations are of the actual item offered. The authenticity of all pieces is fully guaranteed.

This item is in the category "Coins & Paper Money\Coins: Ancient\Greek (450 BC-100 AD)". The seller is "zeus_gallery" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Denomination: Tetradrachm
2. Composition: Silver
3. Year: 104 BC
4. Grade: VF
5. Date: 102 BC
6. Era: Ancient
7. Historical Period: Greek (450 BC-100 AD)
8. Coin type: Ancient
9. Culture: Greek
10. Material: Silver
11. Ruler: Antiochos VII