Sardis (Seleucus I), silver, tetradrachms (Heracles/seated Zeus) (282-281 BCE) Miller - Hoover 2010
From SILVER
282 BCE - 281 BCE Silver 1,329 kg
Description
ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Beardless head of Heracles right wearing lion skin headdress |
ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (Greek).Zeus seated on high-backed throne left, holding Nike on outstretched right hand and sceptre in left |
Mint and issuing power
MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Sardis | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Lydia | Modern countryModern country: Turkey | AuthorityIdentifies the issuing power. The authority can be "pretended" when the name or the portrait of X is on the coin but he/she was not the issuing power. It can also be "uncertain" when there is no mention of X on the coin but he/she was the issuing power according to the historical sources: | Alexander III the Great (Argead king, 336-323 BC), Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC), Seleucus I Nicator (satrap in 321-305 BC and Seleucid king in 305-281 BC) |
Chronology
FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 282 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 281 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Hellenistic 323-30 BC ![]() |
Physical description
MetalThe physical material (usually metal) from which an object is made.: | Silver ![]() |
Median weightMedian of the weights of numismatic objects (in grams). in grams | 17.00 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | tetradrachm ![]() |
StandardStandard.: | Attic |
Image

Sardis seleucus i.jpg [1]
References
Die study referencePublication of the study: | Miller - Hoover 20101Miller - Hoover 2010 | ||
Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | WSM2WSM, n° 1350, Miller - Hoover 20101Miller - Hoover 2010, SC I3SC I, n° 3-5, Hochard 20244Hochard 2024 | ||
Coin series web referenceCoin series web references: |
Obverse dies distribution
FrequencyFrequency of specimen in distribution. ᵖ | Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | % (n) | Die nameName(s) of the die(s). |
2 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 2.67 | 4 |
9 | 1 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 3 |
16 | 1 | 25 | 16 | 21.33 | 2 |
48 | 1 | 25 | 48 | 64 | 1 |
Total | 4 of 4 | 100 | 75 of 75 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 4 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 0 |
Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 18 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 75 |
Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 18.75 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 4.17 |
Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 4.5 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 0 % |
Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 3.91 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 78,200 |
Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to the singleton formula in Esty 2011 ᵖ (O) | 4.23 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00096 |
Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 100% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 38,363.17 |
Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula)Carter 1983 * Median weight * 20000 (*10 if gold or electrum) ᵖ | 1,329 kg <br /> 1,329 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 95,907.93 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Likely military
References
- a b Miller, Richard P. and Hoover, Oliver D., "The Sardes Mint under Seleucus I Nicator," American Journal of Numismatic, 22, 2010, p. 25-34, pl. 10-17
- ^ Newell, Edward T. (1941), The coinage of the western Seleucid mints from Seleucus I to Antiochus III, Numismatic Studies 4, New York, 450 p., LXIV 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.
- ^ Hochard, Pierre-Olivier (2024), "L'atelier de Sardes sous les Séleucides," Revue numismatique, 181, p. 49-109.