The period of the final disintegration of the grsecobactrian power is not definitely ascertained. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india in the. This very indic square drachma of apollodotuss features not only kharoshthi script, but an indic elephant and zebu as well. Bactria proper was north of the hindu kush mountain range and south of the amu darya river, covering the flat region that straddles modernday afghanistan, tajikistan and uzbekistan. It covered bactria and sogdiana in central asia from 250 to 125 bc, while an expansion of its armies into northern india from 180 bc established the indogreek kingdom.
This force grew as the greco bactrian kingdom expanded into india and was widely depicted in greco bactrian coinage. Pdf a flood of fake bactrian coins robert bracey academia. The third arm of the greco bactrian army was the indian war elephants, which are depicted in some coins with a tower thorakion or howdah housing men armed with bows and javelins. Bactrian and indoscythian kingdoms, maues, ae hemiobol, c. Bactria proper was north of the hindu kush mountain range and south of. Sng ans 9 graecobactrian and indogreek coins sylloge nummorum graecorum. Many of the greek kingdoms in this period issued coins of this type for an example. Chronology of the indo bactrian rulers is based largely on numismatic evidence. Baktria, kings, diodotos i, ancient coins index with.
They were treasure troves of information with names and portraits of the kings. It covered bactria and sogdiana in central asia from 250 to 125 bc, while an expansion of its armies into northern india from 180 bc established the indo. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara. Bactrian coins were imitations of greek issues, but gradually acquired a style of their own. Tillya tepe translated literally as golden hill is an archaeological site in the northern afghan province of jowzjan near sheberghan. Grecobactrian coins in the lahori museum 1908 in ancient macedonian kings, archaeology by admin on may 26, 2009 at 2. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india. Kritt, brian, new discoveries in bactrian numismatics classical numismatic studies no. Indo bactrian empire of india bactria zariaspa was an ancient country lying between the mountains of the hindu kush and the amu darya present day afghanistan, uzbekistan, and tajikistan. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india in the british museum, volume 3. Oct 12, 2015 the period of the final disintegration of the grseco bactrian power is not definitely ascertained. I meant to show off this guy again for this thread. Diodotus i was the seleukid governor of baktrosogdiana early in antiochos iis reign. Bactria was a greek kingdom, established when it broke away from the seleukid kingdom.
Aer greek and indian rule the territory came under the control of indoscythian c. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara of kanishka i coin. Oct 09, 2017 guide to ancient greek silver coins collecting how to overview of the types duration. It is hoped that the current work will be of similar use in gathering material concerning the. Bactrian kingdom coins the bactrian kingdom was the easternmost part of the hellenistic world which was created by the conquests of the macedonian king alexander the great. In 247 bc, the ptolemaic empire the greek rulers of egypt following the death of alexander the great captured the selucid capital,antioch. A bibliography of the numismatics of the hellenistic. As the bactrian king menander was ruling in indian region and most of his coins were minted in various ancient indian mints, i have collected some of his coins. May 26, 2009 grecobactrian coins in the lahori museum 1908 in ancient macedonian kings, archaeology by admin on may 26, 2009 at 2. It covered bactria and sogdiana in central asia from 250 to 125 bc, while an. The bactrian kingdom spawned a number of greek monarchies to the east. View more articles from journal of the royal asiatic society of great britain and ireland. Guide to ancient greek silver coins collecting how to overview of the types duration. It is the place where the bactrian gold was first excavated by the russian archaeologist viktor sarianidi in 1978.
Diademed head right zeus standing, brandishing thunderbolt, viewed from behind, crescent monogram, eagle in lower left corner. Bactrian greeks bactrianumis ancient and islamic rare. The kingdom of bactria ceased to exist around bce. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara of.
Printed by order of the trustees collection cornell. His kingdom seems to have been substantial, including probably sogdiana to the north, and margiana and ariana to the south or east of bactria. His kingdom seems to have been substantial, including probably sogdiana to the north, and margiana and ariana to the south or east of. This new standard seems to be identical with that called by metrologists the persian, on which silver coins were struck in all parts of the persian empire, notably the sigli stamped with the figure of the. This page contains a pictorial record of each example of a fake bactrian greek coin which seems to originate from the same workshop probably a modern forger. You may be interested in collecting grecobactrian coins from this time period. Cribbs analysis is framed in his concept of a coinage tradition, which allows the numismatic evidence to be studied in a grounded manner. Online orders are welcome as always and will be shipped directly. Handbook of coins of baktria and ancient india, 5th century bc to first century ad. Chronology of the indobactrian rulers is based largely on numismatic evidence. Jun 30, 2019 royal coinage in hellenistic bactria free pdf book a book on royal coinage for some greek kings in bactria, from euthydemus i to antimachus i. Bactrian coins were imitations of greek issues, but gradually.
Dec 23, 2016 bactrian gold provides an elusive and fascinating look at the ancient culture of what is now afghanistan. Indic, coins, bactrian, coins, greek publisher london. Baktria, sogdiana coins for sale buy baktria, sogdiana. A book on royal coinage for some greek kings in bactria, from euthydemus. Coins of the grecobactrian kingdom wikimedia commons. Specialising in classical antiquities, near eastern, biblical, chinese, precolumbian, byzantine, asian, african and primitive arts, the business expanded from a small shop in the jerusalem souq into a dealership with global reach, and a presence in most of the worlds major artbuying centres. About 30% of the coins in the hoard consisted of these very crude silver tetradrachms imitating the coins of alexander the great. For those who wish to read it, its available below, in pdf form for free. These bactrian versions very likely were derived from an earlier coinage struck by ptolemy i, who ruled egypt after the death of alexander iii the great, initially. On all of his coins, the obverse has various portraits of king menander and reverse has. Page lxviii attic standard weigh 2 grains and the drachm 66 grains, and it is also admitted that from the time of eucratides the greek kings of bactria adopted a native standard. The barakat gallery, a fifthgeneration familyowned business, founded in jerusalem over 100 years ago.
Rpc i costs about 120 with a little luck 150 without, supplement i about 20, supplement ii which is of little use if you dont own the original books, like most supplements is free and has always been free. Oct 20, 2016 these bactrian versions very likely were derived from an earlier coinage struck by ptolemy i, who ruled egypt after the death of alexander iii the great, initially as satrap 3233054 bce, and. A free to view alternative and through coin archives see 3. Jan 27, 2015 the coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india in the british museum. Grecobactrian coins in the lahori museum history of macedonia. A bibliography of the numismatics of the hellenistic far. This bibliography is intended to complement rachel mairs the archaeology of the hellenistic far east. History of macedonia grecobactrian coins in the lahori.
Media in category coins of the grecobactrian kingdom the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. Bactrian greeks, ar drachm, heliokles i bactrianumis. For the graecobactrian and indoscythian kingdoms see beside articles on the separate kings. These coins feature numismatic art and tend to be large. Bactrian coins is an article from journal of the royal asiatic society of great britain and ireland, volume 20. For those who wish to read it, its available here in pdf form for free. Rulers of baktria continue under the indoscythians. Baktria, diodotus i as satrap for antiochus ii theos, c. The graecobactrian kingdom the easternmost region of the hellenistic world covering bactria northern afghanistan and lands to the north known in ancient times as sogdiana, in presentday turkmenistan, uzbekistan and tajikistan was one consequence of the sojourn through afghanistan by alexander the great, whose army built fortresses and assigned greek and macedonian. See also the what is the directory structure for the texts.
The grecobactrian kingdom was, along with the indogreek kingdom, the easternmost part of the hellenistic world, covering bactria and sogdiana in central asia from 256 to. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and. Euthydemos i 225bc kingdom of bactria ancient greek. Graecobactrian and indogreek coins a bibliography of the. Authentic ancient greek roman biblical numismatic coins for. Cunningham, the greeks of bactriana, ariana and india in numismatic chronicle, n. Only bactrian i have, but i do enjoy the look of these coins, and am tempted to seek out more and i love the op coin.
The bactrian kingdom was the easternmost part of the hellenistic world which was created by the conquests of the macedonian king alexander the great. Sariandini and his sovietafghan team unearthed 21,000 pieces of gold in six burial chambers containing five women and one man. Indobactrian empire of india bactria zariaspa was an ancient country lying between the mountains of the hindu kush and the amu darya present day afghanistan, uzbekistan, and tajikistan. Iits like a scene right out of an indiana jones film. A bibliography of the numismatics of the hellenistic far east. Turkic bust right, wearing winged crown topped with senmurv, brahmi inscription in field, bactrian legend in margin. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india in the british museum.
Portraits, especially of kings, were popular design choices in. A short time ago, a casual reference to the complicated greek monograms stamped on the earlier bactrian coins suggested to me an explanation of some of their less involved combinations by the test of simple greek letter dates, which was followed by the curious discovery that the bactrian kings were in the habit of recognizing and employing curtailed dates to the optional omission of the figure. Find the best selection from the most respected coins dealers around the world. You can select to see all the coins of a particular king from the options. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria. The coins of the greek and scythic kings of bactria and india in the british. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a.
439 355 1484 124 577 147 1143 371 926 1515 1622 1228 838 109 1375 742 58 769 971 851 1277 1593 1384 144 1440 1351 800 1443 1157 1305 669 461 898 615 638