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Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Baktrian Kingdom. Agathokles. Silver Tetradrachm (15.05 g), ca. 185-170 BC. Commemorative issue struck for Diodotos I in the name of Antiochos II. [A]NTIOX[OY] NIKATOPOΣ, Diademed head of Diodotos I right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEYONTOΣ AΓAΘOKΛEOYΣ ΔIKAIOY, Zeus Bremetes standing left, seen from behind, extending arm covered by aegis, and brandishing thunderbolt; to left, wreath above eagle standing left; in inner right field, monogram. Bopearachchi 13A; cf. SNG ANS 258 (control). Very Rare. Uniform dark patina. Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
This tetradrachm belongs to Agathokles' so-called "pedigree" series - a series of coins replicating the types of previous Greco-Baktrian rulers as a means of evoking legitimacy for himself as part of a long line of kings. Unfortunately, due to the paucity of textual evidence for the reign of Agathokles (and the Greco-Baktrian kings in general) it is now impossible to know whether he actually claimed descent from the kings in the "pedigree" series through some convoluted family tree or he merely referred to them as legitimate predecessors in the same manner that the emperor Trajan later did when he "restored" the types of some of his Julio-Claudian predecessors.Here Agathokles has copied tetradrachm types of Diodotos I, the rebel Seleukid satrap of Baktria who established the independent Baktrian kingdom. Indeed, the engraver has not only copied the basic types, but also the wreath and monogram controls of the reverse. However, he seems to have used two different models: an issue struck while Diodotos I was still an official of the Seleukid kingdom and after his usurpation of the royal title. The former carries the portrait of Antiochos II on the obverse and thundering Zeus on the reverse while the latter features the same reverse type but depicts Diodotos I on the obverse. On this "pedigree" issue, the portrait seems more like that of Diodotos I, is labeled in Greek as "Antiochos Nikator," apparently referring to Antiochos II. This has been seen as problematic because Antiochos' cult title was actually Soter, not Nikator, and has led to great speculation that Antiochos Nikator might have been an otherwise unknown member of the Diodotid dynasty or that the portrait is really that of Euthydemos I and the label refers to Antiochos III. In reality the disconnect between the label and portrait probably should not be pressed too far - another issue in the "pedigree" series features the head of Herakles taken from the ubiquitous tetradrachms of Alexander the Great with a label identifying it as "Alexander, son of Philip."
Peter Corcoran Collection, Ex CNG 72 (14 June 2006), 1031.
This tetradrachm belongs to Agathokles' so-called "pedigree" series - a series of coins replicating the types of previous Greco-Baktrian rulers as a means of evoking legitimacy for himself as part of a long line of kings. Unfortunately, due to the paucity of textual evidence for the reign of Agathokles (and the Greco-Baktrian kings in general) it is now impossible to know whether he actually claimed descent from the kings in the "pedigree" series through some convoluted family tree or he merely referred to them as legitimate predecessors in the same manner that the emperor Trajan later did when he "restored" the types of some of his Julio-Claudian predecessors.Here Agathokles has copied tetradrachm types of Diodotos I, the rebel Seleukid satrap of Baktria who established the independent Baktrian kingdom. Indeed, the engraver has not only copied the basic types, but also the wreath and monogram controls of the reverse. However, he seems to have used two different models: an issue struck while Diodotos I was still an official of the Seleukid kingdom and after his usurpation of the royal title. The former carries the portrait of Antiochos II on the obverse and thundering Zeus on the reverse while the latter features the same reverse type but depicts Diodotos I on the obverse. On this "pedigree" issue, the portrait seems more like that of Diodotos I, is labeled in Greek as "Antiochos Nikator," apparently referring to Antiochos II. This has been seen as problematic because Antiochos' cult title was actually Soter, not Nikator, and has led to great speculation that Antiochos Nikator might have been an otherwise unknown member of the Diodotid dynasty or that the portrait is really that of Euthydemos I and the label refers to Antiochos III. In reality the disconnect between the label and portrait probably should not be pressed too far - another issue in the "pedigree" series features the head of Herakles taken from the ubiquitous tetradrachms of Alexander the Great with a label identifying it as "Alexander, son of Philip."
Peter Corcoran Collection, Ex CNG 72 (14 June 2006), 1031.