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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Diodotos I Soter. Circa 255-235 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.75 g, 12h). Prototype Pedigree issue by Agathokles Dikaios, circa 185-175 BC. Diademed head of Diodotos I Soter right / ΔIOΔOTOY to right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, Zeus Bremetes, seen from behind, advancing left, extended left arm draped with aegis, preparing to hurl thunderbolt in right hand; in inner left field, wreath above eagle standing left; monogram to inner right. Bopearachchi –; Bopearachchi & Rahman –; MPHB dies 27/75; SNG ANS –; MIG –; HGC 12 –. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 3759751-006, graded Ch XF★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. Extremely rare, one of only two known specimens, and the only one to have appeared at auction since 1905.
From the Melinda Collection.
Circa 260 BC, the Seleukid king Antiochos II appointed a general named Diodotos, possibly a distant relation to Seleukos I Nikator, as satrap of Baktria, the easternmost province of his empire. Starting circa 256 BC, Diodotos began a gradual transition to Baktrian independence, with himself as ruler. For a period of time he struck gold and silver coins in the name of Antiochos, but with his own portrait and personal reverse type of Zeus Bremetes (“Thundering Zeus”), striding and hurling a thunderbolt. At some point he appointed his son, Diodotos II, as co-ruler, and both kings began to use their own names on coins and official proclamations, possibly after defeating an attack by the incipient Parthian Kingdom in circa 240 BC. Diodotos I apparently died circa 235 BC; his son carried on until circa 225 BC, when he was overthrown and killed by Euthydemos I. Despite this violent end to their dynasty, they continued to be revered as founders of the kingdom by later rulers.
This remarkable tetradrachm bears a lifelike portrait of Diodotos I and repeats his reverse type of Thundering Zeus; however instead of the royal title Basilios, it bears the epithet Soter, making the inscription “of Diodotus the Savior.” Soter was not used by Diodotos during his lifetime, hence this must be a “pedigree” issue struck by a later ruler. But which one? Unusually, the issuing king is not named. The best clues we have are the overall style, fabric, and the monogram in the inner right field, all of which match pedigree coins struck in the name of Agathokles Dikaios circa 185-175 BC. According to Simon Glenn in “Money and Power In Hellenistic Bactria” (ANS, 2020, pp. 140-143), these factors point to our coin being an extremely rare “prototype pedigree” issue by Agathokles, of which only one other example in the name of Diodotos Sotor exists. This piece, now held by the British Museum, “was a curiosity for many years,” going back to its appearance in a Schulman auction in 1905. It was assumed by most numismatists and historians that the coin was issued by Diodotos I himself or by his son and immediate successor, but Glenn notes “the decision to omit the name of the issuing king is an odd one and was soon corrected on later (pedigree) issues.”
The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Two – Greek Coinage (Part 2) through Roman Provincial Coinage will be held Tuesday afternoon, 11 January 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.
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