Need some assistance here. Purchase from coin store junk box. I am guessing maybe an Indo-something, possibly Bactria, Scythian, Elymais. Any help, especially on the inscriptions appreciated. Thanks
Yes, it definitely is that coin. from the images I found on the net the one I bought seems to be of good style and not tooo heavily worn. Still looking for confirmation of the smaller one.
Yes, right you are. According to what I was able to find on this coin it is a drachma (mine weighs in at 2.5 grams) and seems upon closer examination to be a darkly toned silver, though it may be debased silver. The second coin, the one correctly attributed above as a bronze tetradrachma of the Kushan King Vima Takto, weighs in at 8.5 grams. I have a Bactrian drachma from the Third century BC but it does not look enough like this one for me to have recognized it. Having paid $10 for the two of them and seeing what they are selling for on a couple of coin sites I can say that just attributing these coins has been worth the $10 investment. Thanks to both of you for pointing me in the right directions.
Second is Azes: https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotv...&Lot=428&Val=38f5f1d292de1d3e9b6c4b482305b23a Threw me for a loop; one does not normally see Athena Alkidemos on Scythian coins; she was the favorite of the Indo Greeks after Menander. The scythians usually used either Zeus, or regular Athena (holding a shield and spear, not chucking a lightning bolt).
The smaller coins should be this one, or similar. Don't have access to my library at the moment, so I can't give you a more precise answer... Indo-Scythian: Azilizes (ca. 85-45/35 BCE) AR Tetradrachm (Senior 50.1T) Obv: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY AZIΛIΣOY; King on horseback right, holding spear Rev: (Majarajasa rajarajasa mahatasa Ayalishasa); Athena standing left, holding shield with aegis and thunderbolt; monograms in fields
The features of the coin are much more recognizable as a tetra, especially yours with such little wear. Do you know if the silver of the drachma was good silver or was it heavily debased?