Hi all As some may know, I like to have systems and frameworks for my coin collection. I like to split up my coins not just by time periods, but by logical groupings and empires/kingdoms/states. For example, my Roman coins are now split into Roman Republic, Roman Empire, Western Roman Empire, and Eastern Roman Empire (I am currently also considering a Roman Provincial section, but haven't made up my mind). While my Greek coins have not yet had the benefit of such a mature framework, I have been aiming to obtain a good representative sample of the larger Greek states throughout ancient Greece. While there is still a way to go on this, I have fairly easily managed to obtain Seleucid, Ptolemaic, Athens, and Macedonian varieties, along with a smattering of other smaller Greek cities/states. One major state that has evaded me until now (for the price I am willing to pay), is Bactria. The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was founded in approximately 250 BC by Satrap Diodotus, who seceded from the Seleucid Empire by taking advantage of the ongoing war between the Seleucids and Ptolemaics. Based in the 'far east' (that is, as far as the Mediterranean focused part of the ancient world was concerned) city of Bactra, at it's greatest extent, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom stretched from modern day India to Uzberkistan, and from Iran to China. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Obol. Balkh mint, Circa late 160s BC. Obv: Draped and cuirassed bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull's horn and ear Rev: The two caps of the Dioskouroi, each with a palm branch beside it; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ to left, monogram below. Mitchiner 181a; Bopearachchi 9C; SNG ANS 496; HGC 12, 139. 0.62g, 11mm Eucratides (or Eukratides) is referred to as the last great king of Greek Bactria. Rising to power through what was most likely a coup, much of his reign was spent fighting wars against pretenders to the throne (what goes around comes around, eh?) and rulers in the Indo-Greek kingdoms to the east. This coin is a very small and entry level addition to the collection, but an important one. Please share your Bactrians! AC
Nice! I got this one in a group lot years ago and sold it, which I have deeply regretted ever since. Eucratides' bilingual coinage is theorized to have been minted during an attempted invasion of his Indo-Greek cousins to the south
Just last month I got my first square Bactrian and like the OP it features Dioscuri caps. This is definitely an entry-level coin! I'd hankered for one of these for a while, but didn't want to pay the price for a decent one. This one was only $5.50 and it looks it, but I like it enough that I am more interested in finding an upgrade - this is the closest thing to a collecting "method" I have - wait and see if I like a cruddy one, then try to get a slightly better one. It was a lot chunkier than I'd expected - it's like a big Chiclets, but non-chewable. Indo-Greek K. Æ Quadruple Antialcidas (c. 130-120 B.C.) BAΣIΛEΩΣ NIKHΦOPOY ANTIAΛKIΔOY, Zeus laureate bust right, thunderbolt over left shoulder / Kharoshthi legend maharajasa jayadharasa amtialikidasa, palms and pioloi of the Dioscuri, ΔHY lower left. (7.64 grams / 16 mm square) Attribution Notes: CoinIndia BOP numbers: BOP 17C: thunderbolt on Zeus's left shoulder BOP 16B: thunderbolt held in Zeus's right hand. http://coinindia.com/galleriesantialcidas.html Wildwinds: BOP série 17B.
Excellent new coin and informative writeup! I don't have any in silver but several in bronze. Here's the man of the hour: 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 2020 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. Ex: Timeline Auction
I don't have one but I greatly admire the Eucratides tetradrachms and of course the signature gold piece that everyone knows: I think I'll pick up one of the tetradrachms soon.
Lovely Bactrians @Parthicus @Marsyas Mike @Ryro ! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely need to get a square type at some stage, and also a tetradrachm like @ancient coin hunter
BAKTRIA 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 Indo-Greek Baktria Menander I Soter BC 155-130 AR Tet 26mm 9.6g Diad - Athena Alkidemos tbolt Gorgon shield SNG ANS 764-767
@Alegandron, if I were to want to look at anyone's collection (thank you, with adult supervision ...as already internalized), yours would be at the top of the list. Just in terms of how much I could learn, only starting from the level of mere osmosis. ...Then we could seriously get into the operant level of adult supervision!!!
Thank you Sir. Like I had mentioned before, I am really not a numismatist in the sense of focusing on pretty coins, ratings, building sets, putting them in plastic cases, etc. Rather, I enjoy reading histories, biographies of people / Peoples who changed History. I like to capture coins that represent placemarkers in Human History. I am kinda that guy who feels instead of “Read the Coin Book before buying the coin”, rather I like to “Read the History”. Then, do a little homework, ensure the coin is legit, and GET IT!
@Alegandron, You Nailed it. All. With your not untypical, bracing combination of comprehensiveness and concision. ...I won't even bust you for calling me 'Sir.' --That, by itself, gets you some serious points!
This is a really interesting statement. I actually don't consider myself a numismatist either. Rather, a collector of history. The coins I seek basically need to be representative of a certain time/cultural group/nation/empire that is of interest to me, along with some eye appeal (my standards on this are low compared to most collectors). Like you, I don't care about ratings etc. One thing where we do differ however, is that I like my coins to be organised, in little plastic pockets, with descriptions, and even a map and some artwork to provide some context regarding the nation/state/empire it came from... So I say, why not do both?
I put mine in Saflips, open in an album with 2x4” pockets, so you can see the card, and all the provenance envelopes, cards, etc with them. Yeah, I love maps... so, where do we differ? I free all mine from slabs, too.
Heh, yes, fair point My comment was really in response to this part of the post: I like sets (that I invent for myself)! And I like plastic flips... not cases. I guess I read cases = flips. Yea, you're right, not really different at all. I have never bought a coin in a plastic tomb. But if I did, you can guarantee it would be freed.
All good! Very rarely do I chase “sets”, but I have several... mostly, cuz they just “fall together” as I capture coins. Or, I see that I have one or two left.. then I get them. MOST times my sets are because someone posts about THEIR set. I look at my coins and then I am able to say “Oh! I have all those coins!”. My Seutonius 12 Caesars was pretty much that way. However, I would not mind having @Bing ’s Marc Antony set. Purdy cool...
...Just needing that. I'm merrily of European and West African heritage ...until I darken the door of my apartment. From which point, given the prevailing cultural (pick one, or both: biases, or the shorter version: bs), it instantaneously segues from Both to Neither. ...Need it all over again: Why Not Both?
