196, Lot: 81. Estimate $500. Sold for $1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Euthydemos I. Circa 225-200 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.97 g, 12h). Mint B (Baktra). Struck circa 206-200 BC. Diademed head right, with aged features / Herakles seated left on lion skin draped over rock, holding club set on knee; monogram below rock. Kritt B18-D; Bopearachchi Series 13A; SNG ANS 143 (same dies); MIG Type 95. Good VF, lightly toned. Fine style portrait. Extremely rare denomination for old portrait coinage.

The coinage of Euthydemos exemplifies the superior realism of Hellenistic portraiture in Baktria. Over the approximately 25 years of his reign, the portrait of Euthydemos reflects the trials of his monarchy, as he is transformed from a vigorous, youthful appearance in his early coins to a weary, almost haggard, look in his later issues. The present coin is from the latest portrait group, which began to be seen in the issues following Euthydemos' successful resistance of the Seleukid king Antiochos III's seige of Baktra, circa 206 BC. In this portrait one may see that the years of tribulations, culminated by a particularly stressful war against the Seleukids, has clearly transformed this once energetic king. Nevertheless, Euthydemos was ultimately successful in his endeavors and firmly established his dynasty following his usurpation of the Diodotid throne.

While tetradrachms of Euthydemos' late period are relatively common, drachms with the elder portrait of Euthydemos are particularly rare. Bopearachchi recorded two examples, one in the BM (photographed in MIG - same dies as the present coin) and another in a private collection. The ANS has two examples (cat. 143-144).