Lot 2225

AR Tetradrachm (Seleucia on Tigris II, series II, struck c 296/5-281 BC., 16.51 g) - Laurate head of Zeus to right with long locks of hair, circle of dots / BAΣIΛEΩΣ on left, ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ in the exergue and monogram below. Helmeted and draped Athena, holding shield in outstretched left and brandishing javelin in upraised right hand, standing in chariot drawn by quadriga of horned elephants right; Anchor above (Newell ESM, pl. VII-11; HGC 9, 18a; ZENO 271214) - slightly dark patina, but attractive bold strike good VF. Note: With the successful conclusion of the Babylonian War against Antigonos Monophthalmos in 309 BC, Seleukos had secured his western border. He then turned his eyes eastwards and attacked Chandragupta, the ruler of the Mauryan Empire in northern India. Sometime around 303 BC a peace treaty was agreed, one term of which was that Seleukos would receive 500 elephants from Chandragupta. The chariot of elephants on this coin serves as a reminder of these beasts.