Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 6 23 Oct 2020
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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I, circa 170-145 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 33 mm, 16.90 g, 12 h), Baktra or an uncertain mint in the Paropamisadai or Gandhara, circa 162-145. Diademed and draped bust of Eukratides I to right, wearing crested Macedonian helmet adorned with bull's horn and ear. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOΥ / EΥKΡATIΔOY The Dioskouri galloping to right, each holding spear and palm branch; to lower right, monogram. Bopearachchi 6T. HGC 12, 131. MIG 177w. Lightly toned and of particularly fine style. Nearly extremely fine.
From the Kleinkunst Collection, ex Sternberg XXVII, 7-8 November 1994, 242 and Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 2, 27-28 April 1984, 331.
With Eukratides I, we are for once lucky in finding more than very brief mentions about the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom in western historiography. A passage from the Roman historian Justin refers to his campaigns in India, in the course of which Eukratides prevailed over a certain 'Demetrios, King of India' (Justin XLI 6): this must be either Demetrios I or Demetrios II. The victor pushed the boundaries of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom to their greatest extent and adopted the title 'Great King', but when he was returning home from India, he was killed by his unnamed son and co-ruler - perhaps Eukratides II, Heliokles or Plato. Whoever the offender was, the patricide must have resulted from bitter hate, as Justin reports that the murderer 'drove his chariot through his [father's] blood, and ordered his body to be cast out unburied'.
From the Kleinkunst Collection, ex Sternberg XXVII, 7-8 November 1994, 242 and Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 2, 27-28 April 1984, 331.
With Eukratides I, we are for once lucky in finding more than very brief mentions about the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom in western historiography. A passage from the Roman historian Justin refers to his campaigns in India, in the course of which Eukratides prevailed over a certain 'Demetrios, King of India' (Justin XLI 6): this must be either Demetrios I or Demetrios II. The victor pushed the boundaries of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom to their greatest extent and adopted the title 'Great King', but when he was returning home from India, he was killed by his unnamed son and co-ruler - perhaps Eukratides II, Heliokles or Plato. Whoever the offender was, the patricide must have resulted from bitter hate, as Justin reports that the murderer 'drove his chariot through his [father's] blood, and ordered his body to be cast out unburied'.