Sardis

Sardis was conquered by Cyrus the Great and formed the end station for the Persian Royal Road which began in Persepolis. It remained under Persian domination until it surrendered to Alexander the Great in 334 BC. During the Ionian Revolt, the Athenians burnt down the city. Sardes was captured by Antiochus III the Great at the end of the 3rd century BC. It was during the reign of King Croesus that the metallurgists of Sardis discovered the secret of separating gold from silver, thereby producing both metals of a purity never known before. Minting of coinage of naturally occurring alloys of gold and silver known as electrum. Sardis could mint nearly pure silver and gold coins, the value of which could be—and was—trusted throughout the known world. After Constantinople became the capital of the East, a new road system grew up connecting the provinces with the capital. When Constantinople was taken by the Venetians and Franks in 1204 Sardis came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire of Nicea. The city continued its decline until its capture by the Mongol warlord Timur in 1402.




Antiochus II Hover to enlarge Antiochus II

Antiochus II
Mint: Sardes
261 to 246 BC
Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right ANTIOXOY on left, tripod standing on symbol. Anchor below, Σ outer left and ΔI outer right.
AE 16x17mm, 4.67g
$0.00
Order # G 248
Ref: SC 522.2; HGC 9, 253(C)

NFS
Seleucus II Hover to enlarge Seleucus II

Seleucus II
Mint: Sardes
246 to 226 BC
Obvs: Helmeted bust of Athena right.
Revs: BAΣIΛIEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Apollo Delphios standing right, holding arrow, leaning on tripod. Monograms to outer left and outer right
AE 17x18mm, 4.71g
$155.00
Order # G 270
Ref: SC 660.2c; HGC 9, 345(R1)

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Achaios Hover to enlarge Achaios

Achaios
Mint: Sardes
220 to 214 BC
Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AXAIOY, Eagle standing right, palm branch over shoulder. M right.
AE 17x19mm, 6.00g
$0.00
Order # G 272
Ref: cf. SC 955.2; HGC 9, 435(R2)
Note: Unpublished with missing control in outer left.

NFS
Antiochus I Hover to enlarge Antiochus I

Antiochus I
Denomination B
Mint: Smyrna or Sardes
280 to 261 BC
Obvs: Facing bust of Athena in triple crested helmet, dotted border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Nike advancing left holding wreath and palm. Countermark 26 caduceus to right.
AE 17x19mm, 4.64g
$0.00
Order # G 295
Ref: SC 314 var; HGC 9, 145(R1)
Note: Anchor counter mark only noted for this type.

NFS
Seleucus II Hover to enlarge Seleucus II

Seleucus II
Mint: Sardes
246 to 226 BC
Obvs: Head of Athena right in crested Attic helmet, dotted border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, anchor flukes up. 2 monograms to right.
AE 10mm, 1.00g
$0.00
Order # G 306
Ref: SC 663; HGC 9, 391(R2)

NFS
Antiochus II Hover to enlarge Antiochus II

Antiochus II
Mint: Sardes
261 to 246 BC
Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo three quarters left, long hair falling on neck.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right ANTIOXOY on left, tripod standing on symbol. Anchor below, uncertain symbol outer right.
AE 10mm, 1.10g
$0.00
Order # G 317
Ref: SC 521.1; HGC 9, 277(R1)

NFS
Antiochus III Hover to enlarge Antiochus III

Antiochus III
Mint: Sardes
Denomination D
223 to 187 BC
Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo right, hair rolled behind. Two long wavy locks falling down neck, dotted border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Apollo seated left on omphalos testing arrow and resting left hand on grounded bow.
AE 12mm, 2.99g
$0.00
Order # G 326
Ref: SC 984; HGC 9, 561(R2-3)

NFS
Antiochus I Hover to enlarge Antiochus I

Antiochus I Soter
Mint: Sardes
Denomination E
270 to 261 BC
Obvs: Laureate head of Apollo right, dotted border.
Revs: BA reading downward on right AN reading downward on left, arrowhead pointing downward. Uncertain O monogram outer left.
AE 9mm, 0.67g
$0.00
Order # G 343
Ref: cf. SC 326; HGC 9, 216(R3)
Note: Unpublished with different control outer left (A not present)
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