Ancient Seleucid silver Tetradrachm Seleukos I Nikator

Cerberus Coins presents an Ancient Greek/Macedonian/Seleucid coin of Seleukos I -

Seleukos I Nikator (The Victor), Founder and King of the Seleukid Empire of Syria, 312-281 BC.

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Size:  25mm  Weight:  17.1 grams   Minted in Babylon Struck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon, ca 311-300 BC.

Obverse: Head of Herakles right, in lion skin

Reverse: Zeus Aetophoros seated left; MI in left field; monogram in wreath below throne

Seleucus I (given the surname by later generations of Nicator (which means victorious in ancient Greek), Greek : Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ (Hindi: सेल्यूकस), i.e. Seleucus the Victor) (ca. 358 BCE–281 BCE), was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire. His kingdom would be one of the last holdouts of Alexander's former empire to Roman rule. They were only outlived by the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt by roughly 34 years.

After the death of Alexander, Seleucus was nominated as the satrap of Babylon in 323 BCE. Antigonus forced Seleucus to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, he was able to return in 312 BCE. Seleucus' later conquests include Persia and Media. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya. Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE and Lysimachus in the battle of Corupedium in 281 BCE. He was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus during the same year. Seleucus' successor was his son Antiochus I.

Seleucus founded a number of new cities, including Antioch and Seleucia.