Catalog
| Issuer | Antioch ad Meandrum |
|---|---|
| Year | 90 BC - 60 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 16.0 g |
| Diameter | 25.5 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | HN Online#2067 |
| Obverse description | Head of Apollo facing right, wearing a laurel wreath and with a bow and a quiver over his shoulder. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | Zebu bull standing left, head facing. Name of the city above and name of the magistrate in exergue. All within maeander pattern border. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
| Reverse lettering | ANTIOXEΩN MENANΔPOΣ |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (90 BC - 60 BC) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 2529272630 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This tetradrachm from Antioch ad Meandrum (90-60 BC) reflects a tumultuous Anatolian period. The city, in Caria, navigated waning Seleucid influence and rising Roman power, especially post-Mithridatic Wars. "Menandros" likely denotes a local magistrate, not the Indo-Greek king. This civic coinage signifies Antioch ad Meandrum's autonomy under Roman hegemony, vital for regional commerce during a complex political transition.
Artistry: The coin's design follows established Hellenistic numismatic traditions, likely from a skilled local workshop. Engravers are anonymous, but the stylistic school drew from broader Greek artistic currents, with regional interpretations. Typical tetradrachm designs feature a prominent deity's head, e.g., Apollo or Zeus, on the obverse, rendered with classical idealism. The reverse commonly displays a standing deity, civic emblem, or mythological scene, with the city's ethnic and magistrate's name, reflecting local identity.
Technical/Grading: Struck on a substantial 16.0 gg silver flan (25.5 mm), this tetradrachm exhibits robust Hellenistic characteristics. High-points for wear typically include the obverse portrait's highest relief areas (hair, brow, nose) and the reverse's raised limbs or drapery. Strike quality varies; well-centered examples show full details. Flan preparation was generally good, though minor imperfections or off-center strikes are not uncommon, impacting the overall technical grade.