Menander I Soter- My set

True. I think we were just pointing it out AN for consistency. There is a good chance in your lifetime you might have to go back and change all of the dates again, but for the moment we might as well be consistent.

Relative dates is what is important. Knowing this man ruled ABOUT 75-90 years after Alexander is what lets us place him in relative history.

 

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I am trying hard to here to give you a well thought out answer, of which it is most likely the wrong answer. So here is my guess...

I looked at a few examples in the usual places. I noticed some variations with obverse monogram and reverse no monogram, so I was thinking that might be a slightly earlier issue where it was struck only at one mint. I and making that assumption based on the idea that you wouldn't need mint marks if the coin is struck in only one place, city etc. Then there are variations like ours with letter on the front. and back. I think yours is the the easiest example to explain my line of thought on.
I then made the assumption that the reverse Kharosthi script reads closely or exactly with obverse Greek script as we have seen in other issues. Assuming this is correct, then the monogram should be the exact lettering on reverse, conveniently in the same location on both sides of the coin. Your Greek "K", sure looks an awful lot like the Kharosthi "kha" which looks like "C."
So I went on to thinking about what it could be used for...
I was thinking that assighning letters to the mint would indicate alot of mints, and the idea seemed to "Roman" to me. These coins are earlier, (I don't know if this is the correct path of logic to follow) So I then made a comparison with Macedonian coins where the mint on the silver pieces is rarely represented by just a letter, but rather a device, torch, shield,bug,wreath, tridant, etc, etc. I though it would make more sense if it was the moneyers monogram. I feel the monogram has more intimate purpose. I don't know but thanks for the thought food.

 

My New Elephant Ancient Came!!!!

Demetrius I Trichalkon with ELEPHANT
200-185 BC
12.83g x 29.5mm
Bronze Attic trichalkon
Obverse: Head of elephant with bell hanging from neck
Reverse: Caduceus.

Same coin but mine has a different monogram...interesting...

 

Very nice, A-Dawg ... man, I love these good ol' elephant coins!!

=> your coin is wonderful!! ... ummm, was it $8 (delivered), same as mine?

 

Ha no- I paid $153.50. Shipped. Thats a great deal for $8.00. Knowing you you paid like $800 for yours. That high roller type.

 

=> have a great night, A-Dawg ... cheers, Elephant-bro!!

 

Wow, awesome coins, Anoob, Ripley,Steve and Doug, love the elephant, going to have to get one...:thumb:

 

My young friend Anoob, seem's to get me to buy these coins, i haven't got an elephant, but i did get a Menander..:yes:

Kings ofBaktria
Indo Greek Kings
Menander..
165/155- 130..BC..
Ar Drachm
Ob. Helmeted and draped bust right..
Rev. Athena Alkidemos advancing left..
holding shield and thunderbolt..
Monogram toright
Bopearachchi serie 16 A..
17mm x 2.45g..

Not sure how this pic landed there, but it looks cool...:yes:

 

Wow! Thats a great specimen! Such high grade, notice the face on Athena's shield, wild. The bust is very impressive and youthful. Its amazing to be able to see the likeness if a ruler at different stages in his life. Eng- you have got great taste in coins. I have fouree version of this coin. It makes me feel good that I got some interested in "other" coins.

 

I know next to nothing about these, but excellent coins!

 

I found another example of this coin with the A/N and the seller has the attribution tied to Chach Mint. I would assume now that the monogram is a mint mark.

 

Any mint attributions on Baktrian coins later that the Diotidids are based on the fantasies of Mitchiner. While it is true that the various control marks do likely indicated mint and/or date, there is no way to conclusively prove a particular mint.

 

Interesting...

Is there any hoard / archeological evidence that support any of this or is it truly as you said, "fantasies of Mitchiner"?

 

None that I know of. For current scholarship, see O. Bopearachchi. Monnaies Gréco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques. Paris. 1991.

 

I have looked at buying that book, but there is a couple of problems.

1) Generally can't find it.

2) When I did find a copy is was more expensive than all the coins I have that might be in the book- put together.

3) The book is in French and has not been translated.

My only gripe about collecting ancient coins.

 

Do I recall some others also accusing Bopearachchi of fantasies? It seems that much of the scholarship on cultures that left few written records has been subject to disagreements between competing workers presented with the same evidence. I'm not sure we benefit from name calling. Mitchiner certainly has his faults as do every other author of what we might call the old standards. In the case of mint names, I'm less concerned that we have a correct city associated than we establish whether or not the monograms are mintmarks as opposed to serving another purpose.

 

Unfortunately I can't really add anything more.

So because the thread got rez'd, I figured I would take the opportunity to show my Menander Tetradrachm reshoot!

 

This has two nice monograms an "S" and a symbol or superimposed letters.

 

I just love these old silver Bactrian coins.

 

Here is a coin of the last of the Greek Bactrian kings Hermalos 40 BC - 1 BC / Zeus.