Coins struck at Antioch on the Orontes
1 catalogued coin and note attributed to Antioch on the Orontes, with weights, legends, dates and Wikimedia-sourced images across Seleucid Persia.
In short
Antioch on the Orontes was the western capital of the Seleucid empire and one of the largest mints of the Hellenistic world, striking the royal silver that circulated across Seleucid Iran. Antioch on the Orontes is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 164 BCE – 175 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm, Tetradrachm denominations, issued under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 2
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 164 BCE – 175 CE |
| Eras represented | Seleucid Persia |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Drachm, Tetradrachm |
| Issuers | Antiochus IV Epiphanes |
| Founded | c. 300 BCE by Seleucus I |
| Role | Seleucid western capital |
| Principal coin | Attic tetradrachm ≈17 g |
| Attribution | Monograms and control marks |
Seleucid capital
Founded by Seleucus I around 300 BCE, Antioch became the administrative heart of the dynasty's western half and its highest-volume mint. Its tetradrachms set the style — Attic weight, royal portrait, seated deity reverse — copied by eastern workshops.
Because Seleucid armies and administrators moved constantly between Syria and Iran, Antioch silver is a normal find in Iranian and Mesopotamian contexts.
Attribution and style
Antioch issues are separated from eastern mints by control marks, monograms and engraving style; the capital's die cutting is generally the most accomplished in the series.
Later Roman provincial Antioch coinage continues under a different system, so a coin 'of Antioch' can be Hellenistic royal or Roman civic — always check the ruler and legend before the mint.
Seleucid Persia · 312 – 141 BCE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Antioch on the Orontes
- Was Antioch a Persian mint?
- Not Persian in origin, but it was the principal mint of the Seleucid empire that ruled Iran after Alexander, and its coinage circulated widely on the plateau.
- How do you tell Antioch tetradrachms from eastern issues?
- By control marks, monograms and the notably higher quality of the capital's die engraving.
- What coins were struck at Antioch on the Orontes?
- Antioch on the Orontes is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 1 coin and note struck between 164 BCE – 175 CE. Its output here covers Silver in the Drachm, Tetradrachm denominations, issued under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- How many Antioch on the Orontes pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 164 BCE – 175 CE, spread across 1 era: Seleucid Persia.
- Which metals were used for Antioch on the Orontes coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Antioch on the Orontes?
- Drachm, Tetradrachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.