Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 2784    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au

INDO-SCYTHIAN, Azes I, (c.58 - 12 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (8.23 g), uncertain mint in Western Gandhara, earlier noted as Taxila Sirsukh mint, obv. king holding whip seated on horse walking right, Greek legend around, ** BASILEWS BASILEWN MEGALOU*/ AZOY, Kharoshthi latter right, rev. Pallas standing to right, with shield, and spear, two monograms each side (S.-, MAC 2370, M 848k, BMC 91, cf.PMC 151-3, HGC 12, 637) (illustrated); another similar as a drachm, (2.07 g), obv and rev. as above but with Athena Promachos to left brandishing shield and thunderbolt, (HGC 12, 646) (illustrated); another drachm (2.26 g), as a posthumous issue from Taxila and North Western Gandhara, obv. as above, noted obv. legend with misplaced letters Y/A as A/Y, rev. Zeus standing left with Nike, (M.856f, HGC 12, 702). Toned, very fine - nearly extremely fine and scarce. (3)

Ex Christies, London, June 5, 1991 (lot 102 part) for the tetradrachm and the second drachm.
Like many other Indo-Scythian and Indo Greek rulers, the history of Azes reign can only be reconstructed through complex numismatic evidence. Earlier catalogues claimed the existence of two kings of this name being divided by that of Azilises. However recent close analysis of monograms show sharing between the two groups of Azes coins that have led to the conclusion that there is only one king named Azes, also further numismatic evidence of by overstriking exists of an 'Azes I' type striking over an 'Azes II' type (see Hoover HGC 12, pg 231-2).