| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Alexander the Great ?
Silver Tetradrachm or Di-shekel, c. 328 BCE
Weight:10.85 gm., Diam:22-25 mm., Die axis:3h
Alexander ? standing right in Persian dress,
with Indian long-bow/ Elephant right
Ref: MIG 22 |
 |
Mitchiner has argued that this extremely rare coin was minted by Alexander when he was headquartered in Bactria during 329-327 BCE. It was at this time he had adopted Persian dress. The elephant may refer to the defeated Persians (who had elephants in their army) or to India. But the Indian long-bow points more surely to an Indian connection. Thus this coin may have celebrated Alexander's victory over Porus. |
| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Imitation of Athenian "owl"
Silver Tetradrachm, c. 320 BCE
Weight:16.95 gm., Diam:23 mm., Die axis:6h
Bust of Athena facing right/
Owl standing right, crescent & olive sprig behind
Greek legend: AΘE (representing Athens) |
|
This coin, minted in Bactria, imitates the most widely circulated coin of antiquity: the Athenian "owl," which was copied in many different countries. Numismatists disagree whether this coin was issued before or after Alexander's foray into India. Considering the wide variety of styles and artistic qualities in which this coin is found, we feel it was quite possible that the coins were issued both before and after Alexander's presence in Bactria. This coin bears a monogram that was used later by the Seleucids, and therefore may well have been issued by Seleucos I to pay his troops during the period from 323 to 312 BCE, when he was struggling to consolidate his power. |
| Bactria: Pre-Seleucid
"Eagle" series
Silver hemidrachm, c. 315 BCE
Weight:1.74 gm., Diam:11-12 mm., Die axis:6h
Bust of Athena facing right/
Eagle standing left, bunch of grapes above |
|
Note how the treatment of Athena in the "eagle" series closely parallels the rendition in the owl series above. |
| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Sophytes
Silver Drachm, late 4th century BCE
Weight:3.79 gm., Diam:14 mm., Die axis:6h
Helmeted bust of Sophytes facing right/
Cock standing right, cadeucus behind
Greek legend: ΣΩΦYTOY (of Sophytes) |
|
Nobody knows who Sophytes was. Cunningham thought he was the Indian prince Sopeithes; others think he was a Persian starap. Whoever he was, he certainly had a master celator in his service, as evidenced by this masterpiece of a coin. |
| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Sophytes
Silver Drachm, late 4th century BCE
Weight:3.41 gm., Diam:16 mm., Die axis:6h
Helmeted bust of Sophytes facing right/
Cock standing right, cadeucus behind
Greek legend: ΣΩΦYTOY (of Sophytes) |
|
If the portraits are life-like, which they probably are, Sophytes must have ruled for some time, as the older portrait here contrasts with the much younger man shown in the previous specimen. |
| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Sophytes
Silver Diobol, late 4th century BCE
Weight:0.95 gm., Diam:11 mm., Die axis:6h
Helmeted bust of Athena facing right/
Cock standing right, cadeucus behind
Greek legend: ΣΩΦYTOY (of Sophytes) |
|
In the tiny diobol, Sophytes elects to place the bust of Athena on the obverse, rather than his own. Note, though, the Corinthian style helmet, and not the Athenian style we saw on the imitative owl coin above. |
| Bactria: pre-Seleucid
Anonymous
Silver Diobol, 4th century BCE
Weight:0.98 gm., Diam:9 mm., Die axis:10h
Forepart of a boar facing right/
Bust of lion facing right |
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A specimen of this enigmatic coin was found in the excavations at Ai-Khanoum in northern Afghanistan. |