When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Bactria, Indo-Greeks GREEK COINAGE AR Drachm NGC F Bactria, Indo-Greeks GREEK COINAGE AR Drachm NGC F Bactria, Indo-Greeks GREEK COINAGE AR Drachm SKU: 8731706053 ITEM SPECIFICS PCGS # Grading ServiceNGC GradeF Mint Location Year Designation Strike Grade Add OnNONE Description
Historic Indo-Greek Silver Drachm of Azes, King of Kings
Struck in the culturally rich crossroads of Bactria and northwestern India, this silver drachm belongs to the complex Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian monetary tradition of the late 1st century BC. Issued in the name of Azes I/II after circa 58 BC, the coin reflects an era when Hellenistic artistic conventions, Central Asian dynastic power, and Indian religious and linguistic traditions met along the great trade routes linking the Mediterranean world with the East. Azes is remembered as one of the most important rulers of the Indo-Scythian sphere, and his coinage continued the bilingual, multicultural format established by earlier Indo-Greek kings.
The obverse presents the mounted king riding right, a vigorous dynastic image emphasizing mobility, martial authority, and steppe-style kingship. Around appears the Greek royal titulature: ΑΖΟΥ, translating to “of the King of Kings, Great Azes.” This grand title asserted imperial sovereignty and linked Azes to the broader Hellenistic practice of using coinage as a vehicle of royal legitimacy.
The reverse continues the bilingual message, typically bearing the corresponding Kharoshthi legend: 𐨨𐨱𐨟𐨯 𐨀𐨩𐨯, read as “Mahārājasa rajarājasa mahatasa Ayasa,” meaning “of the Great King, King of Kings, Azes.” The reverse type, with a standing deity and accompanying symbols, reinforces the syncretic character of the series, combining Greek-style figural design with local scripts and regional religious associations.
Certified by NGC Ancients as Fine, this AR drachm offers pleasing definition for the grade, with the mounted royal type readily discernible and the surrounding legends partially preserved. The surfaces show attractive silver-gray character with nice original cabinet toning, lending the coin an appealing ancient presence. The strike is typical of the series, with some natural irregularity of flan and centering, yet the essential iconography remains clear and collectible.
Coins of Azes are actively pursued by collectors of Greek, Indo-Greek, Silk Road, and Biblical-era coinage for their historical resonance and distinctive bilingual presentation. They stand as tangible witnesses to the fusion of Hellenistic and Indian traditions in the generations following Alexander the Great’s eastern conquests.
A desirable graded ancient silver drachm, rich in historical context and cross-cultural appeal.
