Bactria (uncertain mint) (Seleucus I), silver, drachms (Zeus/Athena driving biga of elephants) (290-280 BCE)
From SILVER
290 BCE - 280 BCE Silver 335 kg
Description
| Obverse: | Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath. Border of dots. |
| Reverse: | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (Greek).Athena Promachos, brandishing spear and holding large shield, in biga drawn by two elephants right, monogram above shield, monogram before elephants |
Mint and issuing power
| Mint: | Bactria (uncertain mint) | Ancient region: | Bactria | Modern country: Afghanistan | Authority: | Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC), Seleucus I Nicator (satrap in 321-305 BC and Seleucid king in 305-281 BC) |
Chronology
| From | 290 BCE | to | 280 BCE | Period: Hellenistic 323-30 BC 
|
Physical description
| Metal: | Silver
|
Median weight in grams | 4.15 | Denomination: | drachma
|
Standard: | Attic |
Image
References
| Die study reference: | "[[Die study reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]1Kritt 1996, p. 6-7, n° 20-25A | ||
| Coin series reference: | "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]2SC I, n° 261 | ||
| Coin series web reference: | |||
Obverse dies distribution
| Frequency ᵖ | Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coins (n) | % (n) | Die name |
| 1 | 1 | 33.33 | 1 | 12.5 | 2 |
| 2 | 1 | 33.33 | 2 | 25 | 3 |
| 5 | 1 | 33.33 | 5 | 62.5 | 1 |
| Total | 3 of 3 | 99.99 | 8 of 8 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | 3 | Number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 1 |
| Number of reverse dies (r) | 6 | Number of coins (n) | 8 |
| Coins per obverse die (n/o) | 2.67 | Coins per reverse die (n/r) | 1.33 |
| Reverse per obverse ratio (r/o) | 2 | Percentage of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 33.33 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula) ᵖ | 4.04 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per die ᵖ | 80,800 |
| Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula) ᵖ (O) | 4.8 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per die ᵖ | 0.00010 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 87.5% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000 ᵖ | 3,960.4 |
| Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula) ᵖ | 335 kg <br /> 335 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000 ᵖ | 9,900.99 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation
References
- ^ Kritt, Brian (1996), Seleucid Coins of Bactria, Classical Numismatic Studies 1, Lancaster, x + 70 p.
- ^ Houghton, Arthur - Lorber, Catharine (2002), Seleucid coins : a comprehensive catalogue. Part 1, Seleucus I through Antiochus III, New York - Lancaster - London, 2 v. (xxxviii, 488 p. + 300 p.), 101 pl.
