BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Polyxenos, circa 85/0 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21 mm, 9.91 g, 12 h), Indian standard, uncertain mint in western Punjab or Gandhara. BAΣIΛΕΩΣ EΠIΦ/ANOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ / ΠOΛYΞENOY Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. 'Maharajasa prakachasa tratarasa Palasinasa' (of the great king Polyxenos, the illustrious saviour', in Kharosthi) Extended aegis with gorgoneion in center. Bopearachchi 3A. HGC 12, 388. SNG ANS 1158 var. (differing monogram). Rare. Harshly cleaned and rough, otherwise, good fine.

Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter was an ephemerous Indo-Greek king ruling in western Punjab or Gandhara, and perhaps a son of Strato I, who made a brief bid for power in the kingdom following the latter's violent death. Bopearachchi places his reign circa 100 BC, but Senior preferred a later date, circa 85-80 BC, which is currently more widely accepted. His rare coins follow the model of those of Menander I, but the aegis reverse type for some of his Indian standard bronze units ('tetrachalkoi') is copied from the obverse of a unit minted in the previous century by Antimachos II (circa 160-155 BC).