Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 87 15-16 September 2015
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I. Gold Stater (8.27 g), ca. 171-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust right of EukratidesI right, wearing helmet adorned with bull's ear and horn. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY, the Dioskouri on rearing horses right, each holding palm branch and spear; to right, monogram. Al. N. Oikonomedes, "The Gold Coinage of the Indo-Greek King Eukratides I (171-155 B.C.)," North American Journal of Numismatics 7.6 (1968), grp. B; F. L. Holt, "Eukratides of Baktria," Studies Oikonomedes pp. 72-6; cf. Bopearachchi 5 (monogram not recorded, but see 7A[drachm); cf. SNG ANS 163 (monogram). Struck on a nice large flan in very high relief, with a full beaded border. Superb Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - one of just a handful known.
Eukratides I, unquestionably one of the most important monarchs of the Baktrian and Indo-Greek kingdom, ruled for about a quarter of a century, having risen to power ca. 170 BC. His extensive coinage includes a unique gold 20-stater piece in Paris, tetradrachms with a majestic left-facing heroic bust of the king, and tetradrachms depicting portraits of his parents Heliokles and Laodike. Gold is of great rarity, and this superbly preserved stater is probably from the mint of Pushkalavati (modern Charsadda in the Peshawar valley of Pakistan). The king wears a helmet, which is curiously reminiscent of the British colonial helmets of the Victorian era. It is ornamented with a bull's horn and ear, as on the coins of Seleukos I of Syria depicting Alexander as the god Dionysos, the legendary conqueror of the Orient. The reverse features the mounted Dioskouroi, Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus and Leda and brothers of Helen of Troy. The Dioskouroi also appear on the coins of the Syrian king Antiochos VI in the years immediately following the end of Eukratides' reign, though this may be no more than coincidence.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000.
Eukratides I, unquestionably one of the most important monarchs of the Baktrian and Indo-Greek kingdom, ruled for about a quarter of a century, having risen to power ca. 170 BC. His extensive coinage includes a unique gold 20-stater piece in Paris, tetradrachms with a majestic left-facing heroic bust of the king, and tetradrachms depicting portraits of his parents Heliokles and Laodike. Gold is of great rarity, and this superbly preserved stater is probably from the mint of Pushkalavati (modern Charsadda in the Peshawar valley of Pakistan). The king wears a helmet, which is curiously reminiscent of the British colonial helmets of the Victorian era. It is ornamented with a bull's horn and ear, as on the coins of Seleukos I of Syria depicting Alexander as the god Dionysos, the legendary conqueror of the Orient. The reverse features the mounted Dioskouroi, Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus and Leda and brothers of Helen of Troy. The Dioskouroi also appear on the coins of the Syrian king Antiochos VI in the years immediately following the end of Eukratides' reign, though this may be no more than coincidence.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000.