BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Demetrios I Aniketos. Circa 200-185 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.94 g, 12h). Good VF.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 416. Estimated: $ 1 500

Oriental Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 3 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Demetrios I Aniketos. Circa 200-185 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.94 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right, wearing elephant skin / BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΔHMHTPIOY to left, nude Herakles standing facing, lion skin draped over left arm, crowning himself with right hand and holding club in left; monogram to inner left. Bopearachchi 1C; Bopearachchi & Rahman 122; MPHB Group IIIA, 170 = Pitchfork 90 (this coin); SNG ANS 187; MIG Type 103d; HGC 12, 63. Iridescent toning, pitting, marks, struck with broken die on reverse. Good VF.

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 69 (8 June 2005), lot 798; Markov 10 (23 October 2001), lot 204.

Demetrios, son of Euthydemos I, succeeded to the Greco-Baktrian throne circa 200 BC, probably after a period of joint rule with his father. In his account of the campaigns of Antiochos III, Polybios mentions that the Seleukid king was impressed with the qualities of Demetrios and betrothed one of his own daughters, named Laodike, to him. A Greek inscription discovered in Tajikistan, dated to circa 200 BC, identifies Euthydemos as “greatest of kings” and names Demetrios as “his son, the glorious, victorious and remarkable.” A period of turmoil in the Mauryan Kingdom of India apparently encouraged Demetrios to launch an invasion of northern India, conquering a huge swath to the north of the Peninsula and establishing the basis for future Greek rule in the region. His coins show him wearing an elaborate headdress in the form of an elephant’s head, including trunk and tusks. This is not just a reference to his Indian conquests, but also an homage to Alexander the Great, the first Westerner to enter India. The figure of Herakles crowning himself on the reverse alludes to tales of the demigod hero’s travels to India. His adopted epithet of Aniketos (“Invincible”) was apparently accurate, as he appears never to have been defeated in battle.

The final winners of all Triton XXIX lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 January 2026.

Triton XXIX – Session Two – Lot 302-613 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 13 January 2026 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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