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After the death of Alexander the Great, his conquered lands were divided among his generals, including Seleucus I Nicator. Seleucus assumed governance over the far Asian territories, founding his Seleucid Kingdom. At its height, the realm included Asia Minor and stretched eastward to northwest India.
This coin is a tetradrachm minted during the reign of Philip I, who was the 26th ruler of the Seleucid Kingdom and Seleucus’ great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson. By this time, the Empire was on the verge of collapse, the western borders under pressure from the Roman Republic, and the eastern borders shrinking at the advancement of the Parthians. The once mighty Kingdom was now reduced to local dynasties in Syria. Making matters worse, there was civil warring among the royal family. Philip was one of five sons born of Antiochus VIII Grypus and Cleopatra. The five brothers warred amongst themselves, and also against a second branch of the royal family descended from Antiochus VII Sidetes.
The first of the siblings to rule was Seleucus VI Epiphanes, who ruled briefly starting around 96 BC before being killed by a cousin from Sidetes’ lineage. The next two in line for the throne were Philip and his twin brother Antiochus XI Epiphanes. It appears that the two shared power, which probably seemed unusual given all the royal family feuding. In any case, Philip earned the nickname Philadelphus, or “Philip the brother-loving."
The two brothers managed to cooperate, at least until Antiochus XI was killed by a cousin from the Sidetes clan. Now it was turn for Philip’s younger brother, Demetrius III Eucaerus, to contend for the throne. Demetrius set up a separate court in Damascus and tried to dethrone Philip, who in turn enlisted help from the Parthians. The latter captured Demetrius and imprisoned him for life.
Even though Demetrius was out of the way, Philip could not sit back, relax and rule from his court in Antioch: he had yet one more younger brother to deal with, Antiochus XII Dionysus. Antiochus XII succeeded Demetrius as the separatist ruler of Damascus and its surroundings. While Antiochus XII was on campaign against the Parthians, Philip marched upon Damascus. The garrison commander, Milesius, delivered the city to Philip without a struggle. Milesius thought he would be rewarded, and when his expectations were not met, he managed to maneuver Philip outside the city gates and lock him out. Philip presumably returned to Antioch. Although Antiochus XII was later killed in battle, Philip never returned to reclaim Damascus.
The exact end of Philip’s life and reign is not certain, symptomatic of the rapid evaporation of the Seleucids into obscurity. He ruled until at least 83 BC, and perhaps for some time afterwards, before the region was taken over by Tigranes the Great and his short-lived Armenian Kingdom. Soon the Roman Republic gained control, and for some decades continued locally minting coins employing the typical Seleucid design with Philip I on the obverse and seated Zeus, holding a scepter and Nike, on the reverse. It is doubtful any tribute to Philip or the Seleucids was intended; instead, the design was likely chosen for expediency.
Coin Details: SELEUCID KINGDOM, Philip I Philadelphus, c. 95-75 BC, Tetradrachm (16.09 g) NGC Grade: AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Diademed head of Philip I right, fillet border, Reverse: Zeus seated left on throne, Nike in right hand, sceptre in left, BASILEWS FILIPPOU EPIFANOUS FILADELFOU to right and left of Zeus, Pi in exergue, References: SNG Spaer 2807, VF, Newell 448.