Nomos AG
obolos 24 21 Aug 2022
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BAKTRIA, Pre-Seleukid Era. Sophytes, circa 305-294 BC. (Bronze, 13 mm, 1.18 g, 8 h), Aï Khanoum or Baktra. Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. Owl standing right, head facing. Cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes 4 (diobol). HGC 9, 211 (Antiochos I). SC 444 (Antiochos I). SCB p. 25, I (Antiochos I). SNG ANS 27 (diobol). Extremely rare, and although rough, it is remarkably unscathed by tooling as most of these seem to come. Nearly very fine.
From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.
There has been some debate as to whether this coin was struck in pre-Seleukid Baktria under Sophytes, or later during the reign of Antiochos I. Both Hoover in HGC and Houghton and Lorber in SC placed the issue under Antiochos I, following Kritt in SCB. However, the style of Athena is unlike the Baktrian bronzes in the name of Antiochos I, yet is quite similar to the style of Athena on the diobols of Sophytes (cf. SNG ANS 27).
From the Thomas Kirby Collection, USA.
There has been some debate as to whether this coin was struck in pre-Seleukid Baktria under Sophytes, or later during the reign of Antiochos I. Both Hoover in HGC and Houghton and Lorber in SC placed the issue under Antiochos I, following Kritt in SCB. However, the style of Athena is unlike the Baktrian bronzes in the name of Antiochos I, yet is quite similar to the style of Athena on the diobols of Sophytes (cf. SNG ANS 27).