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Tetradrachm - Diodotos Tryphon Antioch on the Orontes
| Issuer | Seleucid Empire (Seleucid Empire (305 BC - 64 BC)) |
|---|---|
| Year | 142 BC - 138 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | Spiked Macedonian helmet adorned with wild goat horns, presented in three-quarter view, symbolizing Tryphon's military authority and royal pretensions. A monogram appears in the inner left field. The legend encircles the central device, and the composition reflects the martial iconography characteristic of Seleucid royal coinage. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Tryphon — born Diodotos, a former general under Alexander Balas — seized the Seleucid throne as regent for the boy-king Antiochus VI before having the child murdered around 142 BC and proclaiming himself king outright. His reign was contested from the start, with Demetrius II holding rival claims in the east and his own generals never fully loyal. The coinage from Antioch on the Orontes during these years reflects a ruler spending heavily to maintain military support he could not otherwise command.
Tryphon was captured and killed by Antiochus VII Sidetes around 138 BC, ending one of the more brazenly opportunistic reigns in Seleucid history. His issues from Antioch span only that narrow four-year window.