Greek coins - Tetradrachm Seleukos I Nikator Elepehant 295 BC ! (MA24108)

SELEUKID KINGS. Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 15.42 g, 5 h), Seleukeia on the Tigris II, circa 296/5-281. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. [BA]ΣIΛEΩΣ - [ΣEΛEΥKOΥ] Athena, brandishing spear overhead in her right hand and holding shield in her left, standing right in quadriga of elephants moving to right; above to right, anchor right; in exergue, uncertain monograms. SC 130. about very fine.

"The Seleukid Empire was the largest of the successor states carved from the short-lived empire of Alexander the Great, and arguably the most culturally diverse. Over nearly two and a half centuries it produced an astonishing volume and variety of coinage...from mints scattered across its vast expanse."  This coin features the definitive personal typology of Seleukos I and illustrates his total break with the typology of Alexander the Great that had dominated the coinage of the early period of the Successors. The elephant chariot advertises his conquest of the East and the gift of 500 war elephants that he received from the Indian king, Chandragupta Maurya. These elephants were used to decisively defeat the forces of Antigonos Monophthalmos at the battle of Ipsos in 301 B.C. Zeus and Athena Promachos are traditional Macedonian deities and represent Seleukos' attempt to show his Greco-Macedonian subjects that despite being a ruler of eastern lands and many non-Greek peoples, he was still one of them.