Art Resource - ART307926

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Silver tetradrachm of Agathocles, king of Bactria, an ancient Greek territory in central Asia. Bactrian, ca. 190-180 BCE. D: 3.3cm, W: 16.22g. Inv. CM 1923,1107.1. - Agathocles was a king of Bactria, an ancient Greek kingdom in central Asia. He attempted to show his legitimacy by linking portraits of his illustrious predecessors on the front of his silver tetradrachms, with his own name and titles on the back. This coin carries the portrait of Demetrius I (reigned around 200-190 BC), wearing the elephant-scalp head-dress of Alexander the Great. The elephant-scalp is a reference to the conquest of territories in India accomplished by both these kings. Herakles appears on the reverse, holding a club and lionskin, with the Greek legend 'of king Agathocles the Just' ranged on three sides. The monogram to the left of the standing figure may indicate the mint.

Location British Museum/London/Great Britain

Unique Identifier ART307926

Type Image

Purpose Public

Size 3600px × 1774px

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