Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 412. Estimate $25000.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $15000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Nikias. Circa 90-85 BC. AR Tetradrachm (9.76 g, 12h). BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ NIKIOΥ, diademed and draped bust right / “Maharajasa tratarasa Nikiasa” in Kharosthi, Nikias standing left, raising right hand in gesture of benediction and cradling palm in left arm; monogram to left. Cf. Bopearachchi Série 2B (drachm); MIG -; cf. SNG ANS 1264 (drachm, but with different control mark); Bopearachchi & Rahman -. Good VF, faint field marks. Unique type, and the sixth known tetradrachm of Nikias.

Three obverse/reverse combinations are now known for tetradrachms of Nikias:
1) Helmeted and draped bust / Athena Alkidemos standing facing, brandishing thunderbolt and shield – Bopearachchi & Rahman 495 and Supp. I, 5; CNG 70, lot 479; NAC 29, lot 235
2) Diademed and draped bust / Athena Alkidemos standing facing, brandishing thunderbolt and shield – SNG ANS 1263 = MIG Type 377
3) Diademed and draped bust / Nikias standing left, raising hand in benediction and cradling palm – this coin.