ambr0zie Posted March 31 · Member Share Posted March 31 Today I attended a numismatic show (well, the term is too optimistic - actually, a monthly gathering of sellers of various objects, but not all related to numismatics). Usually I just go to say hello to a a seller I know and I like to discuss with, but today I found something - a little surprising. I suspected it's ancient, I had a rough idea about what it is but it wasn't my area. Since the price was OK, I decided to have a go. Especially since the prize won from @Nerosmyfavorite68's contest demanded a new coin. After some struggles in attributing it, I think I managed to do it. 23 mm, 9,75 g. Indo-Greek Kingdoms. Bactria. Apollodotus I 174-165 BC. Ӕ square hemiobol. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ, Apollo radiate, standing facing, holding arrow in right hand and bow in left arm / [Transliteration: mahārājasa apaladatasa tratarasa – “of the great king Apollodotus the savior”] - Tripod; dotted border. Monogram: Bopearachchi Monogram 51 symbol, consists of Ε and Α - Original reverse legend (in Kharoṣṭhī): Bactrian and Indo-Greek Coinage Apollodotus I 6.4; Bopearachchi 6.D. I did not have too much info about this history chapter. Apollodotus I (some sources - 180-160 BC, others - 175-164 BC) was an Indo-Greek king who ruled the southern and western parts of the kingdom. He was the first king who ruled in India only - therefore the first "proper" Indo-Greek king. His coinage is abundant and a representative part are the square bilingual coins - many more interesting than mine, depicting animals. Please post anything you feel relevant. 13 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted April 1 · Member Share Posted April 1 I enjoy Indo-Greek a lot, but I don't really have any significant examples to share. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velarfricative Posted April 1 · Member Share Posted April 1 (edited) Another coin of Apollodotos I, a rare early circular Attic hemidrachm. Edited April 1 by velarfricative 12 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordoba Posted April 1 · Member Share Posted April 1 Two of my recent indo greek acquisitions, a heliokles II tet and apollodotos ii tet. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted April 1 · Supporter Share Posted April 1 (edited) Nice new Baktrian and good work identifying it! It's a slippery slope, as they are fun and have cool iconography. Here are some of mine starting with the same type as your new coin: Apollodotus I Indo-Greeks, (160-150 BC), Copper Square Hemi-Obol, Obv: apollo standing, holding bow and arrow, greek around legend 'BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY ΣΩTHPOΣ', Rev: tripod within dotted border, khroshthi legend 'maharajasa apaladatasa tratarasa', 10.05g, 22.33x22.63mm, (Mitch. Vol.2 # type 209), about very fine+. Eukratides (171-145 BC), Bronze Unit, BN series 19, 8.99g. Obv: Helmeted bust of king, Greek legend BASILEOS MEGALOU EUKRATIDOU. Rev: Dioskuroides on horseback; Kharoshthi legend above and below Maharajasa Ewukratidasa. Ex: Timeline Auc Lysias BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Circa 130-125 BC. Æ (20x20mm, 8.82 g, 12h). Indian standard. Head of Herakles right, lion’s skin tied around neck, club over shoulder / Elephant advancing right; monograms in exergue. Bopearachchi 8A; SNG ANS 1040-7. VF, dark green patina Menander I BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. circa 165/55-130 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16 mm, 2.49 g, 12 h), Indian standard, uncertain mint in Paropamisadai or Gandhara. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ - MENANΔPOY Draped bust of Menander I to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with pelt and wing. Rev. 'Maharajasa tratarasa Menamdrasa' (in Kharoshti) Athena advancing left, holding shield on left arm and brandishing thunderbolt with her right; to right, monogram. Bopearachchi 16l. HGC 12, 193. Light doubling on the obverse and with a minor flan crack, otherwise, very fine. Purchased from Leu Feb 2022 Edited April 1 by Ryro 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parthicus Posted April 1 · Member Share Posted April 1 Very nice coins, here's my square AR drachm of Apollodotus I: 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordoba Posted April 1 · Member Share Posted April 1 1 hour ago, Ryro said: Menander I Soter Beautiful BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom.. Circa 155-130 BC. Æ Unit (15mm, 3.1 g, 12h). Head of elephant facing slightly right, wearing bell around neck / Club of Herakles upward; monogram to right. Bopearachchi 28D; SNG ANS 920-2 This is a coin of Lysias, not Menander. The legend reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΙΚΗΤΟΥ ΛΥΣΙΟΥ on the obverse 3 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted April 1 · Supporter Share Posted April 1 ..Hermanios Soter, Bactria 105=90BC ...most likely a coin minted after his death at a later date, around 40BC 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted April 1 · Supporter Share Posted April 1 1 hour ago, Cordoba said: This is a coin of Lysias, not Menander. The legend reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΙΚΗΤΟΥ ΛΥΣΙΟΥ on the obverse Oops! Good call and thanks for saying something. I was hurrying to get the IDs added. That's what I get for posting when I should be working. Post is updated with correct identification. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted April 1 · Supporter Share Posted April 1 I haven't pulled this one out for a while! Appollodotus - Elephant & Zebu! 10 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted Sunday at 02:35 AM · Supporter Share Posted Sunday at 02:35 AM Some of my Indo's Indo-Greek Baktria Menander I Soter BC 155-130 AR Tet 26mm 9.6g Diad - Athena Alkidemos tbolt Gorgon shield SNG ANS 764-767 INDO-GREEK KINGDOM Zoilos II Circa 50-40 BCE AR drachm 17mm 2.3g Athena Alkidemos l monograms Antony Actium SNG ANS 1654-1658 Baktria Indo Greco-Baktrian Kingdom Eukratides I Megas 170-145 BCE Dioscuri AE Quadruple Unit Baktria Apollodotos I 180-160 BCE Square AR Drachm 20mm 2.4g Elephant Zebu-Brahman SNG ANS 324-327 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted Sunday at 02:18 PM · Member Share Posted Sunday at 02:18 PM Classical Numismatics just did a video on Heliokles, from Bactria proper. I enjoy the Indo-Greeks a lot! For whatever reasons, probably because they're mostly small coins, I don't have a lot. I suppose it'll be an enduring mystery what the decrepit Indo-Greek AR Tetradrachm is. I pulled it out of an HJB pick bin in the '90's, back from when they had tons of Indo-Greek stuff. It's pretty far gone, but I suspect that it's Menander (seems to be helmeted). I'd have to find it, then I'd have to conquer my coin photography woes to show it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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