Ancient Indo-Greek Silver Drachma - 160 BC

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Silver Drachm - Ancient Greece: Baktrian Kingdom, c. 160-145 BC.

Ruler: Menander

Obv: Diademed & draped bust of Menander, right.

Rev: Athena advancing left, holding shield and thunderbolt.

(Sear-7600) Choice condition! (17mm, 2.45gm) 

Menander has left behind an immense corpus of silver and bronze coins, more so than any other Indo-Greek king. During his reign, the fusion between Indian and Greek coin standards reached its apogee. His silver coinage begins with a rare series of drachms depicting on the obverse Athena and on the reverse her attribute the owl. The weight and monograms of this series match those of earlier king Antimachus II, indicating that Menander succeeded Antimachus II.

On this coin, from the next series, Menander introduces his own portrait, a hitherto unknown custom among Indian rulers. The reverse features his dynastical trademark: the so called Athena Alkidemos throwing a thunderbolt, an emblem used by many of Menander's successors and also the emblem of the Antigonid kings of Macedonia.

 

  • Inventory# PA-2704
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