Obverse: Diademed Bust of the King Facing Right
Reverse: Zeus Striding Left, Holding Thunderbolt
and Aegis, Wreath above Eagle in Inner Left Field
Following the death of Seleucid king Antiochus II
in 246 B.C., rebellions erupted in far-flung
territories to the east. Seleucid forces were tied
up in their struggles against Ptolemaic Egypt and
were thus unable to protect the borders of their
kingdom from nomadic barbarian raiders. In the
province of Bactria, a historical region situated in
present day Afghanistan, the satrap, or governor,
Diodotus I rose up against Seleucid authority and
achieved independence for his kingdom. Nearby,
in modern Iran, another former satrap named
Andragoras also gained independence for the
territory of Parthia. This independence was short
lived, as soon after a tribe from the east, the
Parni, under the command of Arsaces I, invaded
and conquered the land and established the
mighty Parthian Empire, effectively cutting off
the Bactrians from direct contact with the Greek
world. Although the Parthians and the Bactrians
seem to have battled at times, they were allied
against Seleucid campaigns launched to punish
the rebel kingdoms. It is believed Diodotus died
sometime during, or shortly after this campaign,
leaving his son Diodotus II to inherit the throne
and conclude a peace treaty with the Parthians.
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 marks the emergence of the Bactrian
Kingdom. As satrap, Diodotus first issued coins
in the name of Antiochos II featuring portraits of
the Seleucid king. Perhaps symbolizing his
increasing independence, Diodotus eventually
replaced the image of Antiochos II with his own
portrait. Though Antiochos' name was originally
retained on coins such as this one, after officially
rebelling against Seleucid authority, Diodotus
replaced Antiochos' name with his own as well.
This gold stater is a memorial to 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.4097)
|
