Bactria was an ancient region located in Central Asia.
It was a culturally rich and strategically significant area, often considered a crossroads of civilizations due to its position along the Silk Road.
Initially inhabited by Indo-Iranian tribes, Bactria became a major center of the Persian Achaemenid Empire (6th–4th century BC).
After Alexander the Great conquered the region in 329 BC, it became part of the Hellenistic world, giving rise to the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (c. 250–125 BC), a fusion of Greek and local cultures.
Bactria was famous for its wealth, trade, and its role in spreading Hellenistic and Persian influences across Asia.
Bactrian coinage is one of the most fascinating aspects of its history, reflecting the region’s cultural fusion of Greek, Persian, and Indian influences. An overview can be found here:
- Achaemenid & Early Coinage (before 4th Century BC).
Before the arrival of the Greeks , Bactria was part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Coins were rare, with trade relying on silver ingots and foreign currency, mainly Achaemenid sigloi (Persian coins). - Alexander the Great & Early Hellenistic Influence (4th Century BC).
After Alexander’s conquest in 329 BC, Greek-style coinage was introduced. Coins bore the image of Alexander or Zeus, similar to Macedonian coinage. These early coins were mostly silver drachms and tetradrachms. - Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (c. 250–125 BC).
Diodotus I (c. 250 BC) was the first Greco-Bactrian ruler to issue independent coinage.
Coins featured Greek gods (Zeus, Apollo, Athena) and Hellenistic-style portraits of rulers.
Some of the most famous Greco-Bactrian coins were issued by King Demetrius I. - Indo-Greek & Kushan Coinage (c. 125 BC – 3rd Century AD).
Indo-Greek rulers like Menander I and Apollodotus I introduced bilingual inscriptions (Greek on one side, Prakrit/Kharosthi on the other). Coins featured Indian deities alongside Greek gods.
Tetradrachm ca. 145-140 BC Baktrian Kingdom, Plato, NGC AU 5/5-4/5
32,450.00 US$
Material: Silver
Weight: 17.07 g – Diameter: 33.00 mm
NGC Certification number: 6639614-003
Rev: Helios in quadriga
Obv: Helmeted head
Catalog: HGC 12-167. From a private European collection.
Diademed and draped bust of Plato to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear; all within bead-and-reel border, Helios, radiate, standing facing in quadriga galloping to right; monogram in upper right field, MZ in exergue, Extremely rare for this King! Very nice coin lightly toned, near Mint State. BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ ΠΛATΩNOΣ // MZ
Ancient Greek c. 170-145 BC Bactria, Eucratides. Tetradrachm
8,350.00 US$
Material: Silver
Weight: 16.53 g
Obv: Bust of Eukratides r., wearing helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear; all within bead-and-reel border.
Rev: HΛIOKΛEOYΣ above, KAI ΛAOΔIKHΣ in exergue; jugate draped busts of Heliokles and Laodike r., monogram behind; all within bead-and-reel border. Very scarce dynastic issue.
Ex Triton XXVI, 10-11 January 2023, lot 484. Ex CNG 75, 23 May 2007, lot 645. Ex CNG 73, 13 September 2006, lot 536. This is one of the very rare examples that occur only in this series of Greek coins, showing the parents of the king in profile portraits. Utterly magnificent, with some toning. EF
Bactria Tetradrachm. Greek Kings Heliokles I, 145-130 BC EF
2,520.00 US$
Weight: 16.27 g. – Diameter: 31.4 mm. (12h. 30.6mm.)
Catalog: Bopearachchi 223, Série 1U HGC 169
Obv: Bust with diadem
Rev: Zeus with lightning and scepter, monogram in the field.
Excellent portrait Extremely fine
Greek. AR Tetradrachm. ca. 145-140 BC. Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides II Soter. Extremely fine.
2,310.00 US$
Material: Silver
Weight: 16.90 g – Diameter: 33.00 mm
Catalog: MIG 164b var
Obv: Diademed and draped bust to right; all within bead-and-reel border
Rev: Apollo standing facing, head to left, holding arrow in right hand and grounded bow with left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, EYKPATIΔOY and monogram to left.
Tetradrachm ca. 65-55 BC KINGDOM OF BACTRIA Hippostratos Megas Soter, EF
2,100.00 US$
Weight: 9.43 g. – Diameter: 28mm
Obv: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΙΠΠΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ, diademed and draped bust to right. Rev: ‘Maharajasa tratarasa mahatasa jayamtasa Hipustratasa’ in Kharosthi, King, in military attire, on horse standing to right; monogram to right, Kharosthi letters to left and below.
Catalog: Mitchiner, Type 445a. SNG ANS 1629. HGC 12, 451. Bopearachchi, Sophytes 7G. RR!
Ex. Neil collection.
AR Tetradrachm 230-200 BC Bactria – Euthydemos I Panjhir
1,420.00 US$
Weight 16,01 gr. – Diameter: 28.00 mm
Obv. Diademed head of king facing right, within dotted border
Rev. Nude Herakles seated left on a pile of rocks,holding club in right hand which he rests on another pile of rocks, BASI?EOS on right,
EYTY?HMOY on left, PK-monogram in lower right field
Catalog: Mitchiner 94a | Bopearachchi 10A | SNG.ANS.137 | Sear 7516 R
Minor traces of oxidation. Attractive coin with fine details. Rare. vf/xf à vf+
About Us:
MA-Shops.com, The World’s Most Trusted Numismatic Marketplace, offers more than a million ancient, U.S. and ancient coins, along with medals, banknotes, militaria and antiquities. Our vibrant collection is offered by verified and Certified Dealers from around the world. Collectors can search, select and purchase conveniently and confidently knowing every item is authentic and guaranteed. Founded in 2005 by Joachim Schwiening, MA-Shops has offices in Germany and the US.
To become a dealer or for more information, contact us at MA-Shops.com
