Bactrian/Indo-Greek. Square AE chalkos. Menander (c. 160- 145 BCE). Obverse: Head of elephant right wearing bell around neck, Greek legend around BASILEOS SOTEROS MENANDROY (of the King and Savior Menander). Reverse: Club, monograms to left and right, Kharoshti legend around. Sear Greek 7616. This coin: Purchased from Allen G. Berman at the Baltimore Whitman Coin Expo, November 7, 2025. The Indo-Greek kingdom is an offshoot of the Bactrian kingdom, a Hellenistic kingdom established by Diodotus I, Seleucid satrap of Bactria, c.250 BCE. The Indo-Greeks moved south of Bactria into northern India/Pakistan and became independent of their Bactrian predecessors. Indo-Greek history, unfortunately, is poorly understood, as there are very few surviving written records, and there often seem to be multiple rulers simultaneously, each ruling only a portion of the Indo-Greek realm. Even the dates of the kings are highly uncertain, with different sources giving different ranges. Menander reigned about 160- 145 BCE, though different sources list slightly earlier or later dates. He seems to have originated from Bactria and been a co-ruler (or possibly co-equal, separate ruler) with Apollodotus in expanding south out of Bactria and into India/Pakistan. He was a patron of Buddhism and is recorded in Buddhist texts as having lengthy conversations with Buddhist scholars. He issued a large amount of coinage, both round and square, in both silver and bronze. Most of his coins are bilingual, with the same basic inscription given in both Greek and Kharoshti (a script used to write various Indian languages). He was apparently succeeded by his son Strato (with his widow Agathokleia initially serving as regent). This is a pleasant little bronze, nicer in hand than the photo shows, and I was happy to get it at a good price. Please post whatever related coins you have.
Thank you for the history lesson, fascinating information. Not a coin, but I once had a pet squirrel named Menander.
