Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Amyntas Nikator. Circa 80-65 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 8.96 g, 12h). BAΣIΛEΩΣ NIKATOPOΣ AMYNTOY, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull's horn and ear / maharajasa jayadharasa amitasa in Kharosthi, Athena Alkidemos advancing left, brandishing shield on left arm, decorated with aegis, and thunderbolt in right hand; monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi 5A; Bopearachchi & Rahman –; SNG ANS –; MIG Type 395a; HGC 12, 421. Find patina, some roughness. VF. Extremely rare.
From the Melinda Collection.
The coinage of Amyntas is among the rarest of the Indo-Greek series, but this includes the largest silver pieces ever struck in the ancient world. Two immense double-dekadrachms, nearly 70 mm in diameter and weighing @ 85 grams apiece, were found in the Kunduz hoard of 1946. The reasons for their minting are entirely unknown. Aside from these Attic-standard giants, all other coinage of Amyntas is on the Indo-Greek standard; even these are almost never seen in commerce. The iconography suggests an attempt to evoke the great reigns of Eukratides I and Menander nearly a century earlier.
From the Melinda Collection.
The coinage of Amyntas is among the rarest of the Indo-Greek series, but this includes the largest silver pieces ever struck in the ancient world. Two immense double-dekadrachms, nearly 70 mm in diameter and weighing @ 85 grams apiece, were found in the Kunduz hoard of 1946. The reasons for their minting are entirely unknown. Aside from these Attic-standard giants, all other coinage of Amyntas is on the Indo-Greek standard; even these are almost never seen in commerce. The iconography suggests an attempt to evoke the great reigns of Eukratides I and Menander nearly a century earlier.