The monetary economy of the Seleukid Empire

Thesis

The present thesis is a study of the monetary economy of the Seleukid empire, from its inception until the late 2nd century BC, right before its collapse. The Seleukid empire was a political entity that encompassed a large territory and a wide variety of peoples and traditions. As a result, Seleukid rule was not articulated in the same way everywhere. The study of coins obviates to some of the methodological problems traditionally posed by cross-regional comparisons of the Seleukid empire, and it also allows us to appreciate structural differences between the various phases of its existence. The aim of the thesis is to understand the reasons and the modalities in which the Seleukids produced their coins, and how the latter were used, in two different regions of the empire – Northern Syria and Western Asia Minor. The analysis of the numismatic evidence will be conducted against the historical, political, and numismatic backdrop of these two regions. As a result, in order better to understand the peculiarities of Seleukid coin-production and circulation, the present thesis adopts a long-durée approach, spanning from the 5th century BC until the late 2nd century BC. Through the comparison with the Achaemenid and early Hellenistic periods, the aim of Chapter 1 is to formulate a Seleukid model of monetary economy for Northern Syria, a region where the state was at its “strongest”. However, it will become clear that it is possible to argue that several models of the Seleukid monetary economy existed in Northern Syria, depending on the coin-types or even on the individual reigns under consideration. The results of Chapter 1 will be compared with the data from Western Asia Minor in Chapter 2 and 3. Contrary to Northern Syria, Asia Minor was a territory where royal authority over the subordinate cities and dynasts had often to be negotiated. Nonetheless, royal interference – or lack of it – in the minting activity of the cities of Western Asia Minor, and the impact of the royal troops on the patterns of coin circulation, represent important pieces of material evidence that will help shed light on the realities of Seleukid imperialism, beyond the rhetoric of the language of royal euergetism.

Authors: Iles, E

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-7qyednzqg
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Subjects: History, Ancient