EARLY SKYTHIANS, Uncertain. 3rd-mid 2nd century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 16 mm, 2.47 g, 1 h). Diademed head of Antiochos I to right. Rev. Head of a horse with reins to right within shallow incuse. Mitchiner, Ancient & Classical World, 352 var. (with symbol beneath the head of the horse). Morton & Eden 59 (2012), 789 var. (with imitative legend). Very rare and nicely toned. Struck from a worn obverse die and with some minor nicks, otherwise, very fine.



This type imitates the drachms of Antiochos I from Ai Khanoum (SC 431f). As viceroy of the Upper Satrapies, Antiochos I was responsible for the Seleukid East under his father. He was the driving force behind the second Hellenistic urbanization of Baktria, after a significant portion of the first generation of settlers, established under Alexander, revolted shortly after the king's death and were destroyed by Perdikkas. Although Seleukid control over Baktria could not be secured in the long term, Antiochos' efforts laid the foundation for Hellenistic Baktria, and his coins continued to circulate for a long time in and around the Baktrian heartland and in Sogdiana. Thus, it is not surprising that his horse-head drachms were imitated by local tribes.