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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,240 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
As tempted as I am to keep this one, I'm afraid I have bigger fish to fry, at least for the time being--I will probably come back some day for a Eucratides tetradrachm. Bactria, Eucratides I (171-145 BC) AE Quadruple unit (20mm, 8.55g) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΤΙΔΟΥ, Helmeted bust right Dioscuri galloping right, Kharosthi maharajasa evukratidasa  Eucratides, while poorly documented through historical sources, controlled one of the wealthiest kingdoms of the ancient world, as attested by an enormous output of gold and silver coins, including the famed 20-stater gold coin; the single largest gold coin ever minted in antiquity. He was murdered, possibly by his own son, in 145 BC. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
One of the first issues of square coins (a forerunner) in numismatic history, maybe the first, but I stand to be corrected. My example is nearly the same. Notation on the 2x2: "INDO-GREEK EUKRATIDES SQUARE AE22 Rev. 2 cavalry" - should have been "Discouri galloping right". Paid Aus. $69.50 for it about 25 years ago, - I remember paying too much for it at the time. I didn't note the month / year of acquisition  I have just adjusted the obv. and rev. descriptions. I would think that they are now far more accurate. Thanks. Condition: about the same, but the rev. of yours is much clearer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I have a few other square coins from before 1800 (Akbar AR rupee for example), but all of the rest (101 different types in all metals) are modern machine struck. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Nice clear legends and details, excellent coin. The control mark/monogram indicates the coin was struck Balkh the capitol.
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Moderator
United States
34419 Posts |
Quote:
I have bigger fish to fry Like the 20 Stater?  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
The decision to flip such a nice coin must be tough. It seems to be advertising itself as a keeper.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
 I'd have a hard time parting with that one. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I think that this one is better than mine. Keep it! Include it in with the bigger fish you wish to fry.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
You guys are a bad influence!  I'll have this one in my next sale, hopefully in a few days... we'll see if it has any bites! I would love to see yours, sel, if you can get images! As for square coinage, the Greeks in Bactria and India may have been the first to make die-struck square coins, but square punchmarked coins stretch back well before the Mauryan age. I think my oldest square coin is a 1/4 karshapana from Saurashtra, ca. 350 BC. And @Spence, sadly the 20 stater is unique and boasts a staggering provenance, including Napoleon III. Maybe someday though  Edited by Finn235
12/10/2017 8:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Thats a good addition, I'd keep it...
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The punch marked Magadha and Murayan coins are much more quadrilinear in shape, most often close to rectangular.
Other BC Indian kingdoms also produced nominally square coins: the Kalingas, the Sungas, and the Avantis (south India).
A few of the Magadha and Murayan coins are very nearly approximately square.
When and if they were turned out that way, I think it would have been much more due to good luck than good management.
I think that the Murayans didn't really had much of a concept of quality control, save for weight and purity of silver.
I think that the shape that they turned out has more to do with controlling their weight, as the blanks were cut from a sheet of hammered silver.
Still, it is very possible that the Murayan coins provided the inspiration for the deliberate production of square coins later on.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,240 |
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Posted 12/10/2017 05:40 am
