Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 541. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $7000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of BAKTRIA (Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian). The Bara Hoard. A nearly complete hoard consisting of 362 Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coins (355 tetradrachms, 6 drachms, and 1 bronze), all of the 1st century BC, reportedly found at Bara (near Peshawar) in June 1998. The hoard has been catalogued and will be published in a forthcoming book by Bopearachchi, An Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coin Hoard from Bara (Pakistan). The hoard includes 161 different varieties, including variations of king, design, legend, monogram, and control mark. The contents, as catalogued and numbered by Bopearachchi, are as follows:Indo-Greek1-2. Zoilus II. AR Drachm. Bust of king / Athena Alkidemos. (2 coins)3-5. Hermaeus. Billon Tetradrachm. Bust of king / Seated Zeus. (3 coins)Indo-Scythian6. Azes I. AR Tetradrachm. King mounted on horseback with spear / Athena Alkidemos. (1 coin)7-50. Azes I. Billon Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with spear / Deity holding brazier. (44 coins including 7 different varieties)51. Azes I. AE. Elephant / Bull. (1 coin)52. Azes I or II. AR Tetradrachm. King mounted on horseback with spear / Zeus Nikephoros. (not included in lot)53-60. Azilises. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with spear / Deity holding lamp) (8 coins including 6 different varieties)61-81. Azilises. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with spear / Deity holding brazier. (21 coins including 18 different varieties)82-91. Azes II. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena making a gesture. (10 coins including 3 different varieties)92-101. Azes II. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip / Zeus-Poseidon with sceptre. (10 coins including 7 different varieties)102-160. Azes II, AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip / Zeus Nikephoros with sceptre. (59 coins including 35 different varieties)161. Azes II. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena, right arm lowered. (1 coin)162-232. Azes II. AR Tetradrachm. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena, right arm raised. (71 coins including 25 different varieties)233-235. Azes II. AR Drachm. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena, right arm raised. (3 coins including 3 different varieties)236. Azes II. AR Drachm. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena, right arm lowered. (1 coin)237-257. Azes II. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip / Athena, right arm raised, two folds. (21 coins including 11 different varieties)258-370. Azes II. AR Tetradrachms. King mounted on horseback with whip, corrupt legend / Athena, right arm raised, two folds. (106 coins including 39 different varieties; coins 268, 275, 299, 303, 326, 338, and 357 from hoard not included)Total 362 coins (355 tetradrachms, 6 drachms, and 1 bronze) in lot (out of 370 in original hoard). Average VF or better and toned. ($10,000)

A copy of Bopearachchi's forthcoming book on the hoard will be included with the lot upon publication. The book (96 pages plus 31 plates) includes a catalogue of the 370 coins with complete descriptions and photographs of every coin, along with information about the find spot of the hoard and a discussion of the area of Bara in antiquity. The author has compiled a detailed study of the chronology, iconography, metallurgy, and metrology of the coinage, with important historical conclusions. The significance of the hoard is summarized in the Foreword:

“The Bara hoard is of prime importance.... [It] is unusual to come across hoards composed of both Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian coins.... [The] exceptional condition of preservation of these coins, some in mint condition, encouraged us to undertake a die-study and to re-examine some iconographic features, particularly, the king on horseback on the obverse.”