BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Antimachos I, circa 180-165 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 17.03 g, 12 h). Diademed and draped bust of Antimachos I to right, wearing flat topped kausia. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘΕΟΥ - ΑΝΤΙΜΑΧΟΥ Poseidon, nude to the waist, standing facing, holding long trident in his right hand and filleted palm branch in his left. Bopearachchi Série 1D. Mitchiner 124b. SNG ANS 276-277. A beautifully toned example with an exceptionally sharp reverse. The obverse slightly double struck and with a very minor flan fault, otherwise, extremely fine.


The appearance of Poseidon on a coin from Central Asia, far away from any seashore, is at first surprising, but water played an eminently important role in these dry lands and the god may have been worshipped as a water deity in general. It is worth noting, however, that the trident is also an attribute of Shiva, with whom the local non-Greek population might have identified the god on Antimachos' coins.