Obverse: Diademed heroic bust left, seen from behind, wearing aegis over shoulder, brandishing spear. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY around.

Reverse: Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis over arm, hurling thunderbolt; monogram to right; Karosthi inscription around

Bopearachchi: 7E; SNG ANS: 739-44 [155-130 BC].

Diameter: 19 mm. Weight: 2.36 g.

A superb example of a silver drachm minted for the Indo-Greek ruler Menander I. Roughly 200 years before this coin was stuck the Greek military genius Alexander the great had attacked north western India. Although the invasion was largely unsuccessful, he did succeed in establishing several Greek colonies, leaving some of his generals behind to occupy his Indian and Greek conquests. Little is known about most of the Indo-Greek rulers but Menander I was perhaps one of the most important, as this passsage by the 1st century Greek historian Apollodorus illustrates: "The Greeks became masters of India and more tribes were subdued by them than by Alexander - by Menander in particular, for some were subdued by him personally and others by Demetrius,the son of Euthydemus the king of the Bactrians." This coin is superb condition with attractive old cabinet toning - a highly desirable example.