Civilization: Seleucid Empire
Ruler: Seleukos II Kallinikos
Mint: Antioch
Year: 246 - 226 BC
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Chalkon
Diameter: 9.1mm
Weight: 1.0g
Reference: SCO# 1.706, SC1# 706, HGC 9# 328

Obverse
Laureate head of Apollo to right

Reverse
Bull butting to left; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ below, monogram in upper left field

Seleukos II Kallinikos reigned over the Seleucid Empire from 246 to 226 BCE, a period marked by internal strife and external threats. He was the eldest son of Antiochus II Theos and Laodice I, ascending to the throne after the assassination of his father amidst the turmoil of the Third Syrian War (also known as the Laodicean War). His rule began under precarious circumstances, as his mother, Laodice I, orchestrated the murder of Berenice Syra, his father’s second wife, and their infant son, which triggered a prolonged conflict with the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Seleukos II faced significant challenges early in his reign, particularly from Ptolemy III Euergetes, who invaded the Seleucid territories, capturing key regions such as Antioch and much of the eastern provinces. Although Seleukos managed to recover parts of his domain after Ptolemy’s withdrawal, his authority remained contested. His reign was further weakened by a civil war with his younger brother, Antiochus Hierax, who declared himself king in Asia Minor. This fratricidal conflict drained the empire’s resources and allowed local powers, like Pergamon and the Galatians, to gain greater autonomy.

Seleukos II's reign ended with his accidental death in 226 BCE after falling from his horse. His time as king underscored the growing fragmentation of the Seleucid Empire, as dynastic disputes and external pressures eroded its territorial integrity and central authority. His rule, though marked by attempts to maintain the empire's cohesion, highlighted the vulnerabilities that would continue to plague the Seleucid dynasty in the following generations.