Obverse: Head of the King Crowned with a
Diadem
Reverse: Nude Zeus Advancing Left Holding
Aegis and Thunderbolt
In the history of the ancient world, Bactria is
somewhat of an anamoly, a Greek kingdom in
what is now Afghanistan. That Greek civilization
penetrated so far into Central Asia is quite
astounding in tiself. When Alexander the Great
conquered the Persian Empire he acquired the all
its outlying provinces including Bactria. Greek
forces then established control in Bactria and
maintained it after the collapse of the empire of
Alexander. Bactria was at first part of the
eastern section of Alexander's empire, which was
ruled by the Seleucids. There was extensive
immigration of Greeks and the creation of Greek
cities. These cities were built on the Greek
model and included such pillars of Greek culture
as gymnasiums and amphitheatres. Later Bactria
asserted its independence and expanded its
holdings to the upper reaches of the Indus River
Valley. The Greek State in Bactria lasted for
another two centuries, until it was finally
overwhelmed by the nomadic tribesmen of the
area.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have
the coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who touched the coin before us, or where the
coin will venture to after us. More than money,
coins are a symbol of the state that struck them,
of a specific time and place, whether
contemporary currencies or artifacts of long
forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck
coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and
intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in
contemporary machine-made currencies. This
coin is a memorial an ancient king and his
empire passed from the hands of civilization to
civilization, from generation to generation that
still appears as vibrant today as the day it was
struck.
- (C.2028)
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