English: Second Known

Triton XXII, Lot: 341. Estimate $20000. Sold for $22500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos XI & Philip I. Circa 94-93 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 15.75 g, 1h). Uncertain mint in Cilicia. Diademed jugate busts right / BAΣIΛEΩ[Σ] ANTIOXOY KAI BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠΟV, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; Φ below throne. SC 2438 (same dies as illustration); HGC 9, 1297 (same dies as illustration); Triton II, lot 484 = Freeman & Sear FPL 5, no. E83 (same dies). Near EF, lightly toned, small repair at edge of obverse. Extremely rare, one of two known for this issue.

From the MNL Collection, purchased from Frank Kovacs, 25 August 2011.

Upon the death of their older brother, Seleukos VI, in 94 BC, Antiochos XI and Philip I declared themselves joint kings, and sought revenge upon Antiochos X, who they saw as ultimately responsible for their sibling’s murder. At first, the brothers jointly sacked the Cilician city of Mopsos, which had revolted against and subsequently murdered Seleukos and his lieutenants. Afterward, Philip remained in Cilicia while Antiochos XI led a force east to confront Antiochos X in Syria. Although he was initially successful, capturing Antioch for a brief moment, Antiochos XI was soon forced to flee, and he drowned while attempting to cross the Orontes. At the same time, Philip I had been enroute to assist his brother, and thereafter carried on the fight.

The very short joint reign of the brothers is only known from five issues of tetradrachms, all struck in Cilicia. Each feature the same portraiture and reverse type, but different control marks. Three of the issues were likely struck at Tarsos, while the other two, which includes the present coin, were struck at a presently unknown mint. All are extremely rare today.