AJN Second Series 20 (2008) pp. 00–00 © 2008 The American Numismatic Society The Silver Mint of Damascus under Demetrius III and Antiochus XII (97/6 BC–83/2 BC) Plates Oliver D. Hoover,* Arthur Houghton,** and Petr Veselý*** [abstract] Introduction In 1939, Edward T. Newell, one of the great presidents of the American Numis- matic Society and the father of systematic Seleucid numismatic study, presented his findings on the coinages of Demetrius III and Antiochus XII struck at Da- mascus as part of his monograph, Late Seleucid Mints in Ake-Ptolemaïs and Da- mascus. This important catalogue included twenty-two specimens for the reign of Demetrius III and three for that of Antiochus XII. Recent discoveries have now increased the number of known Damascene tetradrachms for these rulers more than fourfold. The existence of previously unknown silver fractions of Demetrius III has also been revealed. In light of these new developments it is useful almost seventy years after Newell to develop a full die study for these interesting late Seleucid coinages. *
[email protected] 203 204 Oliver D. Hoover, Arthur Houghton, and Petr Veselý Die Usage The evidence of die usage for Demetrius III indicates that his Damascene tet- radrachms were a modest coinage for the period. A single obverse die is known for SE 216 (97/6 BC), possibly indicating that the reign of Demetrius III did not begin until late in the year. Counting all dies used in a particular year, five dies have been identified for SE 217 (96/5 BC), 3 for SE 218 (95/4 BC), 4 for SE 219 (94/3 BC), 2 for SE 221 (92/1 BC), 8 for SE 222 (91/0 BC), 3 for SE 223 (90/89 BC), 2 for SE 224 (89/8 BC), and 2 for SE 225 (88/7 BC).