Many aspects of ancient Greek history can be found in this enigmatic silver issue of the Greek Far East. Following Alexander’s conquest of the Persian Empire, Greek rule extended into central Asia as far as India in the south and the modern states of Kyrgystan and Tajikistan in the north. After Alexander’s death, his general Seleucus was able to assert control over the area from Syria to the far-eastern provinces.

The region comprising modern-day Afghanistan and the surrounding areas was broadly known as Bactria. The province maintained a degree of independence during rule by the Seleucids and later became independent. It was in the semi-autonomous region of Bactria, during the early 3rd century BC, that this coin was minted.

Its design imitates the famous issues of Athens, probably the most recognizable coin in the world at the time. Imitations of Athens tetradrachms were struck in Egypt and the Near East in the fifth and fourth centuries BC, but they were of a style very similar to Athens issues. The Bactrian coins, though retaining the same design elements, have a wholly different style than the official products of Athens and could never be mistaken for them.

Tetradrachm in the Athenian style, likely originating in Bactria, ca. mid-3rd century BC

The coin above was part of a large group of Bactrian silver coinage known as the Andragoras-Sophytes Group, which was probably discovered in Afghanistan in the 1960s and subsequently exported to Germany just before the Soviet invasion. This type is quite rare, with a good number of the known examples coming from that hoard, and it cost me $1,000. Higher grade examples have sold for far more. The picture at the top is a didrachm that, due to stylistic identification, is believed to have come from the neighboring province of Parthia. It too was part of the Andragoras-Sophytes Group.