Smyrna (Seleucus II), silver, tetradrachms (Seleucus II/standing Apollo) (240-232 BCE)
From SILVER
240 BCE - 232 BCE Silver 1,477 kg
Description
| ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Diademed head of Seleucus II right, with sideburn |
| ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (Greek).Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting elbow on tall tripod |
Mint and issuing power
| MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Smyrna | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Ionia | 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: | Seleucid Dynasty (312-63 BC), Seleucus II Callinicus (Seleucid king, 246-225 BC) |
Chronology
| FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 240 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 232 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 | 16.90 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | tetradrachm
|
StandardStandard.: | Attic |
Image
References
| Die study referencePublication of the study: | "[[Die study reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]1Lorber 2025b | ||
| Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]2WSM, n° 1419, "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]3SC I, n° 647-649 | ||
| 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). |
| 1 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 4.55 | 4 |
| 2 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 9.09 | 2 |
| 8 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 36.36 | 1 |
| 11 | 1 | 25 | 11 | 50 | 3 |
| Total | 4 of 4 | 100 | 22 of 22 | 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 | 1 |
| Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 7 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 22 |
| Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 5.5 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 3.14 |
| Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 1.75 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 25 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 4.37 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 87,400 |
| 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) | 4.89 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00025 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 95.45% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 10,068.65 |
| 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 | 1,477 kg <br /> 1,477 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 25,171.62 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Likely military
References
- ^ Lorber, Catharine C. (2025), "Silver Coinage of Seleucus II Callinicus from Asia Minor: Production and Circulation," Kairos, 3, p. 1-26
- ^ 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.
