Watch List notes:

Bactria. Agathocles. c. 185-180 BC. Tetradrachm, 16.99g (11h). Obv: Diademed and draped bust of king right. Border of dots. Rx: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ Zeus standing front holding statue of Hekate and scepter; monogram in inner left field. Bopearachchi 1D. Bopearachchi & Rahman 149. SNG ANS 230. Exquisite portrait struck in high relief. This had to be one of the last coins struck from this die because of the large die break across the reverse. Mint State

Ex CNG 84, 5 May 2010, lot 784

The Bactrian ruler Agathocles is not mentioned by the ancient sources, so all we know about him is gleaned from his coins. He is most remarkable for his commemmorative coins that combine his portrait with those of Alexander the Great, Antiochus (I), the Bactrian rulers Diodotos (I and II), Euthydemos, Pantaleon and Demetrios. It folows that his reign should be dated to c. 180 BC, but the meaning of the gallery is not clear. It should also be noted that Agathocles struck bilingual bronze coins (with Karoshti or Brahmi coin legends) featuring Buddhistic symbols and deities of the Hindu pantheon: the earliest representations of Hindu gods known so far. He might have been a multisided personality open to both the Greek world and Indian culture