BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Agathokles Dikaios. Circa 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.83 g, 12h). Near EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 398. Estimated: $ 3 000

Oriental Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 9 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Agathokles Dikaios. Circa 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.83 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right / BAΣIΛEYΩΣ to right, AΓAΘOKΛEOYΣ to left, Zeus standing facing, holding scepter in left hand, and in right hand a statue of Hekate, who holds torch in each hand; monogram to inner left. Unpublished in the standard references. Light iridescent toning, circulation marks, slight double strike on obverse, edge marks. Near EF.

From the Columbus Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, 2003.

Agathokles Dikaios (“the Just”) is a near complete mystery to us in terms of his origins, rise to power and the extent of his realm. On his rare “pedigree” coinage he claims the previous Baktrian Kings Diodotos I, Euthydemos and Demetrios as his ancestors; however these were from rival houses and unlikely to be his true relations. The available evidence supports the conclusion that he was a usurper who seized control, or was appointed to rule, a portion of the vast, unwieldy kingdom along with his contemporaries Antimachos Theos, Pantaleon and Apollodotos I, whose coins were struck in the same 20 year span. Of his character we can deduce little aside from the personality hinted at by his extraordinary coin portraits, which depict a lean man with a head of tight, curly hair, a sharply pointed nose, compressed lips, and a bit of a mad gleam in his eye. This remarkable tetradrachm bears a particularly fine portrait. It also has a monogram – E above Y – that is hitherto unrecorded in the standard references and has not appeared in any auction record, making it unique according to current scholarship.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Two – Lot 338–647 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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