Archebios Tetradrachm

Sale: CNG 82, Lot: 791. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2009.  Sold For $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Archebios. Circa 75-65 BC. AR Tetradrachm (9.56 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right / Zeus standing facing, brandishing thunderbolt and holding long scepter; monogram to left. Bopearachchi 2F; SNG ANS 1285 (same obv. die). Near EF, minor porosity. Extremely rare.

Archebios was among the late rulers of the Indo-Greek kingdom, which had been greatly reduced in size as a result of the Skythian migrations and the growth of their domains under Maues. Very little is known of his reign except for his coinage; the monograms of which show that his area of control was Taxila and its environs. He was the last to rule there before the city was taken by Maues. Archebios’ coinage is relatively rare. His tetradrachms are typically found with a helmeted bust, and other types, such as the present coin, are extremely rare.