Civilization: Seleucid Empire
Ruler: Alexander II Zabinas
Mint: Apamea on the Orontes
Year: 128 - 122 BC
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Chalkon
Diameter: 17.8mm
Weight: 7.06g
Reference: HGC 9, 1166. SC 2242.3

Obverse
Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy

Reverse
BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY Winged Tyche standing left, holding tiller and cornucopia

Alexander II Zabinas was a Seleucid usurper who ruled parts of Syria from about 128 to 122 BCE, during a period of intense fragmentation in the Seleucid Empire. His name, "Zabinas," means "the Bought One," which hints at his origin as a puppet ruler. He was reportedly adopted by the Seleucid king Alexander I Balas and claimed to be his son, though many believed he was a commoner of unknown background. His rise to power was backed by Ptolemy VIII of Egypt, who used Zabinas as a tool against Demetrius II Nicator, the ruling Seleucid king, whom Ptolemy wanted to weaken.

Zabinas gained initial support in Syria, defeating Demetrius II in 125 BCE and controlling major cities, including Antioch. His rule was characterized by efforts to gain favor with local populations, which he achieved in part by portraying himself as a liberator and showing generosity with seized wealth. However, Zabinas’s position remained precarious due to his reliance on Ptolemaic support and the lack of legitimacy among traditional Seleucid loyalists.

When Ptolemy VIII died, Zabinas lost his main backer, and Demetrius II’s son, Antiochus VIII Grypus, eventually challenged him. Zabinas’s forces were defeated in battle, and he was forced to flee. In 123 BCE, he was captured and executed, either by crucifixion or forced suicide. His short reign reflected the ongoing disintegration of the Seleucid Empire, as rival claimants and foreign influences undermined central authority and stability.