BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Antialkidas, circa 130-120 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 9.85 g, 12 h), Indian standard, Kapisa (?). ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ - ΑΝΤΙΑΛΚΙΔΟΥ Diademed heroic bust of Antialkidas to left, holding spear in his right hand and wearing aegis on his left shoulder. Rev. 'Maharajasa jayadharasa Amtialkidasa' ('of Great King Antialkidas the Victory-bearer' in Karoshti) Zeus standing facing, holding Nike in his right hand and long transverse scepter in his left; behind, elephant walking left. Bopearachchi 8. HGC 12, 254. MIG 274. A beautiful example of this iconic issue, with an impressive heroic portrait and a very interesting reverse. Struck from slightly worn dies, otherwise, good very fine.


Antialkidas is one of the few Indo-Greek rulers for whom we have archeological evidence, namely in the form of the famous Heliodoros pillar, a stambha erected in Besnagar in central India. Its exceptional Prākrit inscription informs us that Heliodoros was sent as 'yonadūtena āgatena mahārājasa aṃtalikitasa' to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra. This translates as 'the Greek ambassador who came from the Great King Antialkidas', with Yona (or Yavana) being the word by which Greeks were known in several Indian languages. It is a loanword derived from the Greek word 'Ionia'.