Bactria (uncertain mint) (Seleucus I), silver, tetradrachms (Zeus/elephant biga) (295-280 BCE)
From SILVER
295 BCE - 280 BCE Silver 1,357 kg
Description
| Obverse: | Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath. Border of dots. |
| Reverse: | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (Greek).Athena, brandishing spear overhead in her right hand and holding shield in her left, standing right in biga of elephants moving to right, above to right, spearhead, before elephants, monogram of MΩ |
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 | 295 BCE | to | 280 BCE | Period: Hellenistic 323-30 BC 
|
Physical description
| Metal: | Silver
|
Median weight in grams | 16.80 | Denomination: | tetradrachm
|
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. 4-10, n° 6, 17-19, 27-28, 43-43A | ||
| Coin series reference: | "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]2ESM, n° 316, "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]3SC I, n° 177, "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]4HGC 9, n° 18 | ||
| Coin series web reference: | |||
Obverse dies distribution
| Frequency ᵖ | Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coins (n) | % (n) | Die name |
| 2 | 2 | 66.67 | 4 | 50 | 2, 3 |
| 4 | 1 | 33.33 | 4 | 50 | 1 |
| Total | 3 of 3 | 100 | 8 of 8 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obverses ᵖ (o) | 3 | Number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | |
| Number of reverse dies (r) | 5 | Number of coins (n) | 8 |
| Coins per obverse die (n/o) | 2.67 | Coins per reverse die (n/r) | 1.6 |
| Reverse per obverse ratio (r/o) | 1.67 | Percentage of singletons (o1) ᵖ | % |
| 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) | % | 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 | 1,357 kg <br /> 1,357 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000 ᵖ | 9,900.99 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Likely military
References
- ^ Kritt, Brian (1996), Seleucid Coins of Bactria, Classical Numismatic Studies 1, Lancaster, x + 70 p.
- ^ Newell, Edawrd T. (1938), The coinage of the eastern Seleucid mints, from Seleucus I to Antiochus III, Numismatic Studies 1, New York, 307 p., LVI pl.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2009), Handbook of ancient Syrian coins : royal and civic issues, fourth to first centuries BC, The Handbook of Greek Coinage 9, Lancaster, lxix, 332 p.
