Lot 4100
Baktrian Kingdom. Euthydemos I, ca. 230-200 BC. Gold Stater (8.14g) struck ca. 225-218 BC. Diademed head of Euthydemos I right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY. Naked Herakles seated left on rocks, holding club against column of rocks with right hand; to left above, monogram. Bopearachchi Série 1C; Mitchiner 84.a. The obverse struck slightly off-center. Lustrous and extremely rare. Superb Extremely Fine.
The Baktrian and Indo-Greek kingdom, created in the mid-third century BC from the most easterly provinces of the Seleukid realm, produced abundant coinages in silver and bronze, though gold was always of considerable rarity. This early stater of Euthydemos I (ca. 230-200 BC) is purely Greek in its inspiration, and the king was, in fact, a native of Magnesia in Ionia. The 'weary Herakles' reverse type appears to have been inspired by the tetradrachm coinages of Antiochos II from several mints of western Asia Minor, notably Myrina, Kyme, and Phocaia. Mitchiner attributes this gold stater to Balkh (Greek Baktra), the capital city of Baktria and the principal mint prior to the expansion of the kingdom.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Harlan J. Berk Sale 90, April 17, 1996, lot 9.
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| Realized $13,800 |
