ANTIOCHOS IV AE, EGYPTIANIZING SERIES

SC 1414, HGC 9, 644, Very Fine, 24.5mm, 17.89 grams, Antioch on the Orontes mint, Struck Circa. 169/168 B.C.E.

Obverse: Head of Isis to right, wearing tainia

Reverse: Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOΥ to right, ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ to left

Antiochos IV Epiphanes was the oppressive king of the Chanukah story. This coin was struck on the eve. of his onslaught against the Judaeans. Antiochos was proud of his conquest of Egypt (the raison d'etre of the production of the coin type) and was humiliated when he was forced to retreat by the Romans. During his retreat he initiated a war on Judaea and slaughtered multitudes of its inhabitants and commenced an oppressive persecution. Ultimately, the Judaeans wrested back control of the country with the Maccabean revolt.