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CNG Feature Auction 117

Lot nuber 355

BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Agathokleia & Strato I Soter. Circa 105-85/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 9.66 g, 12h).


CNG Feature Auction 117
Lot: 355.
 Estimated: $ 2 000

Oriental Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 2 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Agathokleia & Strato I Soter. Circa 105-85/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 9.66 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust of Strato I and draped bust of Agathokleia conjoined right / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, brandishing thunderbolt and aegis; monogram to lower left . Bopearachchi 6A; Haughton, Silver, pp. 135-6 and pl. VIII, 2; Bopearachchi & Rahman 418; HGC 12, 314; SNG ANS 987. Slightly uneven strike, isolated areas of light roughness. Good VF. Rare.

The numismatic evidence suggests that Strato and Agathokleia co-ruled a portion of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, likely encompassing western Ghandara and parts of the Punjab, sometime in the later second century BC, but their possible connection with the other Indo-Greek dynasts remains entirely conjectural. The early consensus was that Agathokleia was the wife or sister of Menander I Soter (circa 155-130 BC), and that Strato was their son, for whom she served as regent in the early part of the reign. Further studies indicated that a gap of at least 20 years came between the reign of Menander and that of Agathokleia and Strato, precluding a direct succession. Agathokleia’s name suggests she may be a descendant of the earlier Greco-Baktrian king Agathokles. Her prominence is indicated by a small coinage with her portrait alone on the obverse, making her the only female to appear by herself on a coin of the series. After an apparently brief regency or joint reign, she disappears from the coinage and Strato continues alone.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 117 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 May 2021. This lot is in Session 2, which begins 19 May 2021 at 2 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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