ITEM: Modern pendant with Seleukos I Nikator coin MATERIAL: Silver and bronze CULTURE: Seleucid PERIOD: 4th Century B.C DIMENSIONS: 19 mm diameter CONDITION: Good condition. Original coin within a modern handmade circular silver setting. PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired in the 1990s COIN DESCRIPTION: 'Seleukos I Nikator (Seleukid King: 312-260 BC). AE bronze. Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo right, with wavy locks Rev: Athena Promachos standing right, brandishing spear and shield / Anchor 18mm 5.23g' Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. Seleucus I Nicator was one of Alexander the Great's most capable generals and the founder of the Seleucid Dynasty, which ruled a vast portion of the Near East for centuries. Following Alexander's death in 323 BCE, Seleucus navigated the treacherous Wars of the Diadochi with remarkable resilience. Initially the satrap of Babylon, he was forced to flee to Egypt before returning to reclaim his territory and eventually expanding his reach from the Mediterranean coast to the Indus Valley, effectively securing the largest share of Alexander's former empire. His reign was defined by an ambitious policy of urbanization and cultural fusion. He founded dozens of cities, most notably Seleucia-on-the-Tigris and Antioch, which served as vital hubs for Greek administration and trade in the heart of Asia. Seleucus was also a master of pragmatic diplomacy; he famously concluded a peace treaty with the Indian Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, trading eastern territories for 500 war elephants. These elephants became a signature of the Seleucid military and were instrumental in his victory at the Battle of Ipsus. The end of his life was marked by both triumph and sudden betrayal. In 281 BCE, after defeating his rival Lysimachus at the Battle of Corupedium, Seleucus stood as the last surviving "companion" of Alexander and was poised to claim the throne of Macedonia. However, as he crossed the Hellespont to return to his homeland, he was assassinated by Ptolemy Keraunos. Despite his sudden death, the Seleucid Empire remained a dominant Hellenistic power for generations, acting as the primary bridge between Greek culture and the traditions of the East.