Very nice - let’s make this legitimate: Kingdom of Bactria Menander I r. c. 165/55-130 B.C. AR Drachm, 15.71mm x 2.5 grams Obv.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ / ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Diademed bust of the sovereign right, coat fastened on the right shoulder Rev.: (Maharajasa tratarasa / Menamdrasa). Athena Alkidemos standing left. Monogram 'H' in right field Ref.: Bopearachchi, Ménandre (I) Sôter, 67
That was an enjoyable video, thanks randy. I've got one related coin. Menander I Soter AR Drachm 155-130 BC. 18mm, 2.46 g. Obv: Diademed heroic bust left, seen from behind, wearing aegis and brandishing spear. Rev: Athena Alkedimos advancing left, holding shield and thunderbolt; monogram to right. Bopearachchi 7A
It was a nice video. I must admit that I know very little about history of the various eastern Greek kingdoms. Apollodotos I, Backtria, Indo-Greek, 174-165 BC AR, drachm, 14mm, 1.4g Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY SΩTHPOΣ; Elephant standing right, MI monogram below Rev.: Maharajasa Apaladatasa tradarasa (Karosthi script); Zebu standing right, Karosthi legend around, MI monogram below Hermaios Soter, INDO-GREEK KINGDOM, 90-70 BC. Bl Tetradrachm (posthumous imitation), 24mm, 8.4g, 12h; after 70 BC Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ EPMAIOY; Diademed and draped bust of Hermaios right Rev.: "Maharajasa tratarasa Heramayasa" in Kharosthi; Zeus seated slightly left on throne, extending arm and holding scepter; in left field, monograms. No Greco-Baktrians in my collection though I do have several Indo-Scythians: Indo-Scythians, King Maues 90-57 BCE (per CoinIndia; elsewhere, shown as 125-85 BCE) AE hemi-obol, 9.5 gm, 20 x 23 mm Obv: Elephant walking right, with raised trunk, within rectangular dotted border; Greek legend around, BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY MAYOY Rev: King seated cross-legged facing oncouch, within rectangular border, monogram above right, Kharoshthi legend around:rajatirajasa mahatasa moasa Spalahores, Indo-Scythian, BC 75-65 AE, hemiobol, 22mm, 8.5g; Kandahar Obv.: CΠAΛYPIOC ΔIKAIOY AΔEΛΦΟΥ TOY BACIΛEΩC (of Spalyrises, the just, the brother of the king); Horseman right Rev.: (Kharosthi legend citing Spalagadames as "son of Spalahores"); Herakles seated left on rock resting club on knee, control symbol at lower left Azes, Indo-Scythians, BC 57 -12 AR, drachm, 2g, 16mm; 6h, uncertain mint west of Taxila Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY AZOY; king on horseback right, raising right hand, holding whip, Kharosthi letter "ņa" before Rev.: Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa rajadirajasa mahatasa ayasa; Pallas-Athena standing right with shield and spear, monograms on either side Azes, Indo-Scythian, BC 50-30 AR, drachm, 15mm, 2g; 11h Obv.: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓ AΛΟΥ / AZOY; Emperor on horseback right, holding whip and raising right hand, bow on his back. Karosthi letter in right field Rev.: Kartoshi script around, "MAHARAJASA RAJARAJASA MAHATASA AYASA"; Zeuse standing left, holding long scepter and Nike, monograms in right and left field Azes I/II, Indo-Scythians, BC 57-12/AD 5-35 AR, tetradrachm, 8.76h, 24.5mm;1h Obv.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΞΟΥ; Great king on horseback right, bow on back, right arm raised holding (?), whip in left, monogram of Karosthi letter left field Rev.:Karosthi legend; Poseidon standing right holding trident and extending right hand, monogram left, Karosthi letter right (?)
Here's one I don't have but man what a beautiful coin...Eucratides commanded the service of a fine die-cutter...
Thanks @randygeki ! That video really brought those Greek Kingdoms into perspective. Very helpful! INDO-GREEK KINGDOM Zoilos II Circa 50-40 BCE AR drachm 17mm 2.3g Athena Alkidemos l monograms Antony Actium SNG ANS 1654-1658 Indo-Greek Baktria Menander I Soter BC 155-130 AR Tet 26mm 9.6g Diad - Athena Alkidemos tbolt Gorgon shield SNG ANS 764-767 India Indo-Scythian King Azes I 57-30BCE AR Drachm Baktria Apollodotos I 180-160 BCE Square AR Drachm 20mm 2.4g Elephant Zebu SNG ANS 324-327 Baktria Greco-Baktrian Kingdom Eukratides I Megas 170-145 BCE Dioscuri AE Quadruple Unit Sogdiana - Hyrcodes 3rd-4thCE AR Scyphate Obol or Reduced Drachm 12mm 0.56g Bukhara mint Male-Deity BMC Baktria p118
very kool randy..thanks for sharing..here's my donational coin from the time and area.. Indo Greek Bactrian imitation of Meander l, circa 30 BC
Great video! Makes the coins more interesting to know more about the history of the kingdom. Being a city on the silk road in those days must have been very lucrative. I find the idea of the silk road and its meeting of many cultures very romantic but I doubt I would have liked the reality of riding a camel across the desert parts of it very much. I have a coin of the usurper. Kingdom of Batria, Eucratides I ‘the Great’, 170-145 BC AR Tetradrachm, 16.91g, 34mm Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Eucratides right wearing broad-brimmed Bactrian helmet, ad and reel border. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY, the Dioscuri on rearing horses to right, each holding a palm, monogram beneath horses to right. References: Bopearachchi Série 6E variant (monogram on right). John
That was a cool video RG, I've been looking for a nice vid about the eastern Greeks for a while. I still have a hard time keeping everyone straight over there. I didn't know there were already Greeks in some of those regions because of being moved by the Persians...neat! That was one of the first things that kind of got me hooked on ancient coins, I had no idea there were Greeks in that part of the world! Here's coin I picked up several years ago that I have some new pics of.... INDO-GREEK AE unit, Eukratides I, 2nd Century BC O: Helmeted bust of king right, Greek legend around on three sides: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / MEΓAΛOY / EYKPATIΔOY, R: Dioscuri on horseback right, Kharoshthi legend above and below. 21 mm, 9.5 g. Indo-Scythian, Azes, 1st century BC O: King mounted on horse right, holding spear, Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY / AZOY R: Humped bull standing right, monograms above, Kharoshthi legend. 20 mm, 9.5 g. My last Indo-Greek coin... Menander I, AR drachm, 160-130 BC O: Busst of king right, Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ // MENANΔPOY ("Savior King Menander") R: Athena Alkidemos standing left, holding aegis on outstretched left arm, hurling thunderbolt with right hand, monogram at right, Kharoshthi legend. 18 mm, 2.3 g
