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ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟY ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ | Seleukia on the Tigris 161-150 BC
The jugate busts of Demetrios I and Laodike displayed on the obverse of this coin explain why tetradrachms of this type were sometimes referred to as marriage tetradrachms. The time and location that these coins were minted is significant. The mint in Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris only started to mint coins for Demetrios and his wife after the defeat of Timarchos in 161 BC. Timarchos, a Greek nobleman who was appointed as satrap to Media under the reign of Antiochos IV, took advantage of the confusion which marked the death of Antiochos in 164 BC and the subsequent instating of a new ruler, to take full control of his region.
He declared himself king of Media and nearby Babylonia in 162 BC, the same year that Demetrios took his rightful place on the Seleukid throne. Demetrios made deposing the unlawful despot a priority upon coming to power and defeated Timarchos' troops in 161 BC. Given the prominence of Laodike on the coinage of this period, Seleukid Coins suggests that her marriage to Demetrios took place in Seleukeia swiftly after the defeat of Timarchos and these commemorative coins marked a celebration of the lawful king over an area so recently ruled by a usurper.