Silver Tetradrachm, Bactria, after 145 BCE, Eucratides I “the Great”

Silver Tetradrachm, Bactria, after 145 BCE, Eucratides I “the Great”; Obverse: Diademed bust of king
Silver Tetradrachm, Bactria, after 145 BCE, Eucratides I “the Great”; Reverse: Mounted Dioscuri prancing r., holding palms and spears. Inscription: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ (BASILEOS MEGALOU EUKRATIDOU = “of King Eucratides the Great”).
Unidentified Artist, Bactrian

Type/Object Name: Ob: Diademed bust of King Eucratides l wearing crested helmet, seen from back, wielding spear in upraised right hand. | Re: Mounted Dioscuri prancing, holding palms and spears. Inscription: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ (BASILEOS MEGALOU EUKRATIDOU = “of King Eucratides the Great”).

Dates: after 145 BCE

Medium: Silver, Tetradrachm

Dimensions: Diameter 31.5 mm, Weight 16.9797 g

Credit Line: Courtesy of John Nebel

Notes: Eucratides produced a remarkable series of coins, including the largest gold medallion yet known from antiquity (found in Bukhara, it weighs 169.2 g and has a diameter of 58 mm. It was bought by Napoleon and is now in the Cabinet des Médailles, Paris). Eucratides expanded the Bactrian kingdom into northern India, and his bilingual coins have been found in large quantities in India. The obverse of this coin is striking. It shows Eucratides from behind, his muscles bulging as he brandishes a spear, and a Boeotian-type helmet with the bull’s horn and ear of Seleucus. The Dioscuri shown prancing forward in harmonious motion on the reverse here formed a frequent design on Eucratides’ coins; the image serves as the basis for the emblem of the Bank of Afghanistan. Eucratides was the last known ruler of Ai Khanoum, his capital city, and the rule of the Graeco-Bactrians crumbled after his death. This coin was minted posthumously (after his death), in Merv.

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: Mitchiner 179a, p. 94; SNG ANS 484