v53_0147 - BACTRIA - BACTRIAN KINGDOM - EUCRATIDES I Unité bilingue, (MB, Æ 21)

BACTRIA - BACTRIAN KINGDOM - EUCRATIDES I

(170-145 BC)

It is up to O. Bopearachchi to have confirmed the existence of two Eucratids. He has completely revised the chronology of these kings who reigned on the borders of Hellenism, at the gates of India, on the borders of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Eucratides I succeeded in maintaining himself for more than 30 years in a fragmented state where numerous usurpations took place, including that of Menander. Eucratides I was assassinated in 145 by one of his sons. The type with a helmeted bust and the Dioscuri on the reverse is well known from the gold coin of 20 staters, weighing 169.20 g and which is the largest preserved Greek gold coin. It was bought for 30,000 gold francs in 1867 on the personal cassette of Napoleon III and is kept in the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris..