Seleucid coinage

A large concentration of mints existed in the Seleucid Syria, as the Mediterranean parts of the empire were more reliant on coinage in economic function.

Some Seleucid bronze coinage feature decorative serrated edges similarly with certain Roman denarii and rare Macedonian coins.

[1] The denomination values and common imagery on silver coinage was as follows, with the denomination based on the Obol and image most common on the coin:[2] Successor states of the Macedonian Empire continued to mint coins with image of Alexander the Great.

Achaemenid rulers did not try to unify standards for the coinage, and they allowed local satraps to strike coins in their own name.

[5] Despite seemingly enforcing some regulations, Seleucid policy was still somewhat free compared to the Ptolemaic Kingdom which imposed an exclusive royal currency.

[12] Early coinage of the Seleucid Empire was struck in name of Alexander the Great, or the coins at least included his image.

Bactra mint was an exception to this almost universal rule as it did not strike coins with the image of Alexander the Great.

[6] Anchor was the symbol of Seleucid dynasty starting from the reign of Seleucus I Nicator in 305 BC, and it was used by his successors.

Another theory is that the anchor was a form of propaganda aimed at merchants to lure them back into Northern Syrian cities and their new harbors built by Seleucus.

[5] Coins of the Seleucid Empire had imagery including a reigning king with a lion head dress, or Zeus on a throne with a sceptre and eagle in each hand.

[16][12] Coinage struck by Antiochus IV Epiphanes can be considered to be iconographically innovative when compared to other Seleucid rulers.

[18][better source needed] Seleucid mints struck this type of bronze coinage within an approximate period of 187 BC–141 BC.

[8][9] As a comparison, there are known instances of coins with serrated edges from the Kingdom of Macedon during the reign of Philip V. Like in the Seleucid mints, the Macedonians did also somewhat quickly discard the process.

[20] Syrian mints serrated their coins simply as a decorative method, and it is also possible that the Romans also sought only the aesthetic value.