Triton XXII, Lot: 456. Estimate $2000. Sold for $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Agathokles Dikaios. Circa 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.71 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕOYΣ, Zeus standing facing, holding figure of Hekate in outstretched right hand, and scepter in left; Hekate holds torch in each hand; monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi 1C = Aï Khanoum III 124; Bopearachchi & Rahman –; SNG ANS 230 var. (monogram); MIG Type 137 (monogram unlisted); HGC 12, 81; Zeno –. Near EF, minor deposits, slight porosity. High relief portrait. Extremely rare, only one example recorded by Bopearachchi. None on CoinArchives.

From the Menlo Park Collection. Purchased from Palladium Numismatics, 1996-1998.

Based on the similarity of coin types, Agathokles was possibly the brother of Pantaleon, or, more probably, Pantaleon’s co-ruler and immediate successor. Aside from his coinage, no other records or accounts of Agathokles’ reign survive. In addition to his portrait coins, he minted an extensive series of “pedigree” coins touting his connection to illustrious rulers of the past, including Alexander, Diodotos, Euthydemos, Demetrios and Pantaleon. His excellent portrait coinage depicts a rather sharp-featured man with a bit of a mad gleam in his eye.