Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

I Metal
M
M
Size
O
2i
Weight
s 244
M H
KINGS OF BACTRIA, &c. 67
end of lance, from which hangs a ribbon ; in field to ?., mon. or symbol 188.
JR. BAEIAEVr BAr lAEVUJN EUJTHP MEFAr. The king on horseback to r. ;
the ends of his diadem floating behind his head ; on his extended right hand, ? ;
in front of horse same symbol as on obverse.
Same type, without any pendent to the sceptre or lance ; same symbol. R. Same
legend, type, and symbol.
Another similar.
Note.—The coins of this prince have been found in great numbers in the topes of Kaabul, as well as
in the Punjaab, and as far east as Benares. The centre of dominion was probably in the Punjaab,
perhaps at Maniky^la. The types, although Greek in their general style, and thus in agreement with
the legends, which are almost exclusively Greek, indicate that the Soter Megas was not of very late
date ;
for the use of the Greek language in the Bactro-Ariano-lndian series diminishes by a regular
gradation from its sole use under the Greeks of Bactria, to the total extinction of its characters, about
the fourth century of the Christian sera. On the other hand, a comparison of style in the coins of
Soter Megas, and those of Menander and his successors, shows him to have been considerably posterior
to the latter dynasty, and not less the forms of the Greek letters, 6, C, and UJj which resemble
those of the Asiatic Greeks and Arsacidae in the first and second centuries of the Christian rera.
Professor Wilson gives reason for supposing that the predecessor of the Soter Megas was Azes, who,
like the Soter, styles himself King of Kings, and whose coins bear a symbol resembling that on
the coins of the Soter. It seems probable that during the century which preceded, and that which
followed the Christian sera, the following kings reigned in the countries to the south of the Indian
Caucasus, namely. Manes, Palisirus, Spalyrius, Azilises, and Azes, of all whom coins are extant. It
is evident they were all of barbarous origin, though they imitated their Greek predecessors in the
forms of their names, as well as in the Greek types and Greco-Arianian legends on their coins.
KADPHISES.
BAOIAEYC OOHMO KAA*ICHC. The king, seated adv., with head turned to I., on
a low bench with a footstool, dressed in a Tartar cap with diadem, and in a
long Tartar coat and boots ; in his right hand, a branch ; in field to I., a club ;
to r., mon. or symbol 189. H. The titles and name of Kadphises in Arianian
characters. Figure, standing adv. before an Indian bull, holding in his right
hand a trident, his left resting on the bull's shoulder ; in field to I., symbol or
mon. 190.— Electrotype from the Museum of the India House.
BACIAE\C BACIAeiDN (CU3THP MeFAC OOH)MO KAA*ICHC (the letters between
brackets are obliterated by nine Arianian letters, belonging to the reverse
of a similar coin). The king standing adv., but turned to I., dressed as before ;
his right hand held, with fingers downwards, over an altar ; his left hand resting
on his hip ; in field to I., trident (and below it the tail of a bull, belonging to
the reverse of another coin) ; in field to r., symbol 189 ; below it, ?.
R. Arianian inscription as before, beyond which appear
AGYC BACIAeiD .... belonging to an obverse. Androgynous figure
the Greek letters
in trans-
parent drapery, holding, as before, a trident in right hand, and leaning with his
left on the hump of the Indian bull ; in field to I., symbol J 90.
Note.—The dress of this sovereign is a clear proof of his having been a Tartar or Scythian. While
the Greek letters on liis coins tend to demonstrate that a previous conquest of Bactria had been made
by the Scythians, the Arianian characters of the reverse equally prove that the Scythians had afterwards
established their authority over the countries to the southward of the Indian Caucasus. The
altar on the obverse, and the figures of Siva and the Indian bull on the reverse, lead to the belief
that Kadphises encouraged the religion both of Persia and India, and that he succeeded to the
possession of the same countries which had been governed by the Soter Megas.