Obolos 15

PHRYGIA. Apameia. Circa 166-133 BC. Cistophoric Tetradrachm (Silver, 31 mm, 12.31 g, 1 h), c. 150/140 BC. Serpent emerging to left from a partially open cista mystica; around, ivy wreath. Rev. Bow in gorytos between two upwardly coiling snakes; to left, monogram of ΑΠ; to right, elephant's head to right. Kleiner & Noe Series 23. Pinder 69. SNG Copenhagen 147. SNG von Aulock 3450, 8332. Clear, attractive, nicely struck on a broad flan. Overstruck, otherwise, good very fine.

The elephant's head symbol on the reverse is perhaps a reminder of the Seleucid elephants that Antiochos III used at the Battle of Magnesia in 190, when he was defeated by the Romans. He was then, at the Treaty of Apameia of 188, banned from possessing military elephants. It shouldn't be forgotten that elephants were the ancient equivalent of the WW II Tiger tank: of course, against Alexander and against the Roman legions they proved relatively ineffective.