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AV Half Unit - Eucratides I
| Issuer | Kings of Baktria |
|---|---|
| Year | 170 BC - 145 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Royal monogram of Eucratides I occupying the central field, composed of interlocking letters rendered in bold relief. The monogram combines elements of the king's name in a compact, heraldic arrangement characteristic of Baktrian royal coinage. The plain, unadorned field surrounding the device emphasizes the symbolic authority of the dynastic cipher. No legend or border is present, consistent with the smallest fractional gold denominations of the Baktrian series. |
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| Reverse description | A horse's head rendered in profile facing right, with pricked ears and muscular neck detail visible in low but confident relief. The compact design fills the small flan effectively, with the mane suggested by incised lines along the crest of the neck. The field is plain and uninscribed, with no border or exergual line. The imagery reflects the importance of cavalry and horse culture in the Baktrian kingdom, a motif recurring across the coinage of Eucratides I. |
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| Additional information |
Eucratides I seized the Baktrian throne through usurpation, likely overthrowing Demetrius II, and spent much of his reign fighting on multiple frontiers simultaneously — campaigns against Parthia to the west and incursions deep into the Indian subcontinent to the east. Ancient sources, including Justin, credit him with commanding a force of 300 men against an army of 60,000 in one engagement, holding out long enough to survive. He was eventually murdered by his own son, who reportedly drove a chariot over the body.
At 0.53g, this denomination served transactional needs that the larger stater could not. Bopearachchi 6D places it within a tight die group, suggesting a limited striking episode rather than continuous production.