BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I, circa 170-145 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 33 mm, 16.90 g, 12 h), Baktra or an uncertain mint in the Paropamisadai or Gandhara, circa 162-145. Diademed and draped bust of Eukratides I to right, wearing crested Macedonian helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOΥ / EΥKΡATIΔOY The Dioskouri galloping to right, each holding spear and palm branch; to lower right, monogram. Bopearachchi 6T. HGC 12, 131. MIG 177w. Lightly toned and of particularly fine style. Nearly extremely fine.


With Eukratides I, we are for once lucky in finding more than very brief mentions about the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom in western historiography. A passage from the Roman historian Justin refers to his campaigns in India, in the course of which Eukratides prevailed over a certain 'Demetrios, King of India' (Justin XLI 6): this must be either Demetrios I or Demetrios II. The victor pushed the boundaries of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom to their greatest extent and adopted the title 'Great King', but when he was returning home from India, he was killed by his unnamed son and co-ruler - perhaps Eukratides II, Heliokles or Plato. Whoever the offender was, the patricide must have resulted from bitter hate, as Justin reports that the murderer 'drove his chariot through his [father's] blood, and ordered his body to be cast out unburied'.