Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos IV Epiphanes. Antioch on the Orontes mint. “Egyptianizing” series, struck 169-168 BC. Æ (32mm, 30.00 g).

Obv: Laureate head of Zeus-Serapis right, wearing tainia with Osiris crown at tip

Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, eagle standing right on thunderbolt.

SC 1413; SMA 59; HGC 9, 643

Antiochos III had smashed the Egyptian armies at Paneas in 198 BC, conquering Coele-Syria and Palestine. His son Antiochos IV faced growing pressure from the Ptolemies for the return of their territory, and in 170 launched a pre-emptive invasion which took him to the gates of Alexandria. The year 168 saw the famous incident where the Roman legate Gaius Popillius Laenas drew a circle in the sand around Antiochos, demanding he leave Egypt or face war with Rome. The enraged king took out his frustration on the Jews, plundering Jerusalem and sparking the Maccabean revolt that lead to Judaean independence. Antiochos IV “Epimanes” (The Insane) died in Persia in 165/4 BC. A series of three bronze denominations was struck by Antiochos with Egyptian-style eagle reverses, undoubtedly to mark his victory over Ptolemy VI. Newell, in SMA, attributes the pieces to Antioch, based on stylistic grounds and site finds. Noeske suggests a southern mint, possibly Pelusium on the Egyptian border. Weiser sees two distinct series, one from Antioch, the other from Pelusium, but does not explain how to distinguish the two.