A particularly nice "barbaric" Indo-Scythian imitation AE tetradrachm, ex. CNG

This is a coin that I was going to post on the chocolate patina thread, but I decided that it deserved its own.

This first century BC tetradrachm was minted in Balkh, Bactria, located in present day northern Afghanistan.



I acquired from CNG back in the early 90's, from one of their fixed price lists. Normally I don't dabble in Indo-Scythian coinage, but when I saw this one, it was as good as purchased. These coins do show up, but this one is in quite a nice grade for this type. The strike is decently centered, surfaces are smooth and the patina has uniform shades of brown and red.

Indo-Scythians, circa 1st century BC
Imitating Heliokles
AE Tetradrachm
Balkh Mint
Obverse: Diademed head facing right.
Reverse: Zeus standing, facing left, holding a staff and ?, monogram to left.
MIG 504b

16.18 grams



Can anyone help with the reverse legend?

Thanks!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Mitchiner (ACW 1875-1876) renders the inscription as ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΗΛΙΙΛΕVΣ ΔΙΙΔΙV, a blundered version of ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΗΛΙOKΛΕOYΣ ΔΙKAΙOY ("of the king Heliokles the just") as found on the prototype.

[edit] Zeno categorizes them as "Saka- and YüehChi- imitations, Heliokles type": https://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=2139
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuezhi
Very nice example!

 

Thank you so much! I will add this information.