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Drachm - Eucratides I
| Issuer | Kings of Baktria |
|---|---|
| Year | 171 BC - 145 BC |
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| Reference(s) | MIG#177f var., Bop#6W var. (monogram placement) |
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| Reverse description | The twin Dioskouroi — Castor and Pollux — depicted as mounted cavalry heroes, each on a rearing horse charging to the right, brandishing long spears or lances in dynamic, martial poses. A monogram, serving as a mint or magistrate mark, appears to the left of the horsemen in the field. The circular Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ ('of King Eucratides') runs around the periphery, divided above and below the central type, all within a beaded border. |
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| Reverse lettering | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ |
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| Additional information |
Eucratides I seized the Baktrian throne through civil war, almost certainly killing his predecessor Demetrius II in the process, and spent much of his reign fighting on two fronts — against the Parthians to the west and Indian kingdoms to the south. Ancient sources credit him with commanding an army of just 300 men against a besieging force of 60,000 before breaking the siege through relentless sorties. He was murdered by his own son before he could return home, the son reportedly driving a chariot through the corpse.
The monogram placement variant noted against Bop#6W suggests a die officina distinction that remains incompletely mapped in the literature.