Obverse: Diademed and draped bust right, wearing crested helmet with bull's horn and ear,

BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY around.

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

Mitchiner 218b; Bopearachchi 16e; SNG ANS 868-73. [155-130 BC].

Diameter: 17 mm. Weight: 2.46 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, the toning is iridescent with vivid rainbow colours - a highly desirable example.