71, Lot: 25. Estimate $150. Sold for $277. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GREEK KINGS of BAKTRIA. Euthydemos II. Circa 185-180 BC. Cupro-Nickel Double Unit (25mm, 8.25 gm). Laureate head of Apollo right / Tripod; monogram to left. Bopearachchi Série 6B; SNG ANS 224; MIG 118a. Good VF, reddish-brown patina, some minor porosity. Scarce.

The only substantially nickel coinage of antiquity was struck by the Baktrian kings Euthydemos II, Agathokles and Pantaleon. This new alloy was not successful as the Greek furnaces could not handle the very hard nickel with its high melting point, and the surfaces of the coins are usually pitted and corroded where the metals did not mix properly.