Alabanda (BC 197-190) Tetradrachm

ca 197-190/188 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.70g). Struck as Antiocheia, under Antiochos III of Syria. Laureate head of Apollo left / [ΑΝΤ]ΙΟΧΕΩΝ, Pegasos springing right; ΤΙΜΟΚΩΝ (magistrate) below. Good VF. Rare.

Alabanda was situated in northern Caria on the river Marsyas, about 30 km from its confluence with the Maeander. The first coins known for the city are the issues struck in the name of Antiocheia in honour of Antiochus III of Syria, during his attempt to recover Asia Minor in the early 2nd century (cf. Houghton, SC p. 352). After his defeat at the battle of Magnesia in 190 BC, Alabanda reverted to its old name and issued tetradrachms with magistrate names as well as Alexander-type tetradrachms, but it was not until about 167 that the bulk of the 'dated' A-B coins were issued (cf. SNG Helsinki 1-5). For an in-depth analysis into this coinage, see N. Waggoner, 'A new wrinkle in the Hellenistic coinage of Antioch/Alabanda' in Kraay-Morkholm Essays, 1989, pp. 284-290.