BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (37mm, 16.79 g, 12h). EF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 55. Estimated: $ 1 000

Oriental Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 5 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (37mm, 16.79 g, 12h). Helmeted, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / The Dioskouroi, holding couched spears and palm fronds, on horses rearing right; monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 6X; SNG ANS 472; HGC 12, 131. Toned, a few obverse cleaning marks. EF. Struck on a broad flan.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Freeman & Sear inventory G12201.

Demetrios, son of Euthydemos I, succeeded to the Greco-Baktrian throne circa 200 BC, probably after a period of joint rule with his father. In his account of the campaigns of Antiochos III, Polybios mentions that the Seleukid king was impressed with the qualities of Demetrios and betrothed one of his own daughters, named Laodike, to him. A Greek inscription discovered in Tajikistan, dated to circa 200 BC, identifies Euthydemos as “greatest of kings” and names Demetrios as “his son, the glorious, victorious and remarkable.” A period of turmoil in the Mauryan Kingdom of India apparently encouraged Demetrios to launch an invasion of northern India, conquering a huge swath to the north of the Peninsula and establishing the basis for future Greek rule in the region. His coins show him wearing an elaborate headdress in the form of an elephant’s head, including trunk and tusks. This is not just a reference to his Indian conquests, but also an homage to Alexander the Great, the first Westerner to enter India. The figure of Herakles crowning himself on the reverse alludes to tales of the demigod hero’s travels to India. His adopted epithet of Aniketos (“Invincible”) was apparently accurate, as he appears never to have been defeated in battle.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:18:00 ET.



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