Ancients: , BACTRIAN KINGDOM. Demetrius I (ca. 200-185 BC). AR tetradrachm (34mm, 17.03 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF S 5/5 - 4/5, die ...
BACTRIAN KINGDOM. Demetrius I (ca. 200-185 BC). AR tetradrachm (34mm, 17.03 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF S 5/5 - 4/5, die shift. Diademed, draped bust of Demetrius I right, seen from side, wearing headdress composed of elephant head, ears, trunk, and tusks; dotted border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΔHMHTPIOY, Heracles standing facing, nude, crowning himself with wreath in right hand, club cradled in left arm and draped with lion skin; ΦΔΠ monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi Série 1B. SNG ANS 186. HGC 12, 63. Spectacular specimen with stern portrait struck on a luscious broad and toned flan. The unusual elephant headdress worn by Demetrius on this tetradrachm recalls the similar headgear sported by Alexander the Great on early coins of Ptolemaic Egypt, referring to his conquests in northern India. Demetrius also campaigned in India while serving a long apprenticeship under his father, Euthydemus I, as recorded on a dedicatory stone recently discovered north of Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan. After succeeding to the throne, he launched an invasion of northern India that extended Greek control into modern Pakistan. The historian Strabo claims "more tribes were subdued by [Demetrius] than Alexander." HID10510052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
[ translate ]Bid on this lot
BACTRIAN KINGDOM. Demetrius I (ca. 200-185 BC). AR tetradrachm (34mm, 17.03 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF S 5/5 - 4/5, die shift. Diademed, draped bust of Demetrius I right, seen from side, wearing headdress composed of elephant head, ears, trunk, and tusks; dotted border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΔHMHTPIOY, Heracles standing facing, nude, crowning himself with wreath in right hand, club cradled in left arm and draped with lion skin; ΦΔΠ monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi Série 1B. SNG ANS 186. HGC 12, 63. Spectacular specimen with stern portrait struck on a luscious broad and toned flan. The unusual elephant headdress worn by Demetrius on this tetradrachm recalls the similar headgear sported by Alexander the Great on early coins of Ptolemaic Egypt, referring to his conquests in northern India. Demetrius also campaigned in India while serving a long apprenticeship under his father, Euthydemus I, as recorded on a dedicatory stone recently discovered north of Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan. After succeeding to the throne, he launched an invasion of northern India that extended Greek control into modern Pakistan. The historian Strabo claims "more tribes were subdued by [Demetrius] than Alexander." HID10510052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
[ translate ]Time, Location
Auction House
