BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Antimachos I, circa

BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Antimachos I, circa 180-165 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 33 mm, 17.00 g, 12 h), Baktra. Diademed and draped bust of Antimachos I to right, wearing flat topped kausia. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘΕΟΥ - ΑΝΤΙΜΑΧΟY Poseidon, nude to the waist, standing facing, holding long trident in his right hand and filleted palm branch in his left; to lower right, monogram. Bopearachchi 1A. HGC 12, 106. MIG 124f. Beautifully toned and with a fine portrait. About extremely fine.


Ex Spink 5020, 30 September 2005, 562 (with original ticket) and Peus 374, 23 April 2003, 195.

The appearance of a kausia, the traditional flat topped Macedonian hat, on Antimachos' coins is remarkable. It represents an appeal to the Macedonian identity of the Greek-speaking settlers in Baktria and attests to their vivid awareness of their descent.