Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Apollodotos I Soter. Circa 180-160 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34mm, 16.84 g, 12h). Diademed and draped elderly bust right, wearing kausia; all within bead-and-reel border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY to left, Athena seated left, holding Nike in extended right hand, spear in left, resting her left elbow on shield; monogram in exergue. Bopearachchi 1A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 194 (same obv. die); SNG ANS –; MIG –; HGC 12, 116. Toned, a hint of porosity, a few light scratches, hairline die break on reverse. Good VF. Magnificent high relief portrait. Extremely rare.
From the Melinda Collection.
Apollodotos I Soter ("Savior") is unknown to history aside from his coins, of which the rare Attic-weight tetradrachms like this piece are among the finest of all of Hellenistic portrait coins. He is shown as rather aged and jowly, with a hint of a smile, wearing a distinctive Macedonian sun-hat called a kausia. In these respects he resembles another contemporary Baktrian ruler, Antimachos I Theos, who may be his brother or other close relation. His area of control was likely centered in Gandhara, now in northwestern Pakistan, and likely extended into northern India, as his small square silver drachms are commonly found there. He could thus be considered the first fully Indo-Greek ruler, although too little is known about his area of control to be certain.
From the Melinda Collection.
Apollodotos I Soter ("Savior") is unknown to history aside from his coins, of which the rare Attic-weight tetradrachms like this piece are among the finest of all of Hellenistic portrait coins. He is shown as rather aged and jowly, with a hint of a smile, wearing a distinctive Macedonian sun-hat called a kausia. In these respects he resembles another contemporary Baktrian ruler, Antimachos I Theos, who may be his brother or other close relation. His area of control was likely centered in Gandhara, now in northwestern Pakistan, and likely extended into northern India, as his small square silver drachms are commonly found there. He could thus be considered the first fully Indo-Greek ruler, although too little is known about his area of control to be certain.