bgr_673679 - BACTRIA - BACTRIAN KINGDOM - MENANDER I SOTER Drachme bilingue
175.00 €(Approx. 182.00$ | 145.25£)
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Type : Drachme bilingue
Date: c. 160-155 AC.
Mint name / Town : Taxila
Metal : silver
Diameter : 17 mm
Orientation dies : 12 h.
Weight : 2,32 g.
Coments on the condition:
Monnaie centrée. Joli buste. Revers à l’usure régulière. Patine grise
Catalogue references :
Obverse
Obverse description : Buste héroïque de Ménandre à gauche diadémé avec l'égide sur l'épaule, tenant une javeline transversale.
Obverse legend : BASILEWS SWTHROS// MENANDROU
Obverse translation : (Grand roi Ménandre).
Reverse
Reverse legend : LÉGENDE KHAROSHTHI "MAHARAJASA TRATASARA MENAMDRASA".
Reverse description : Athéna Alkidémos combattant à gauche, casquée et drapée, tenant de la main gauche un bouclier orné de l'égide et brandissant de la main droite un foudre ; derrière, un monogramme (B).
Reverse translation : (Roi très grand Ménandre).
Commentary
Drachme bilingue. Portrait de Ménandre particulier, de beau style. Égide avec tête de Méduse et serpents particulièrement bien venue. Quatre exemplaires sont conservés au Cabinet des médailles de la BnF (p. 229, n° 37-40, pl. 27).
Historical background
BACTRIA - BACTRIAN KINGDOM - MENANDER I SOTER
(165/155-130 BC)
Menander would be, according to O. Bopearachchi, the greatest monarch of Bactria. Originally from Alexandria in the Caucasus, he would have been of royal blood or belonged to the Greek aristocracy. According to Strabo (XI, 11), Menander would have extended Greek power in Bactria by conquering northwestern India. Its capital would have been Sagala which is not yet identified. He would have entered into conflict with Eucratides I, origin of a civil war which would have ruined Bactria. On the death of Eucratides, Menander recovered part of the latter's territories. When he died in 130 BC, the kingdom fell apart.
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