MENANDER SILVER TETRADRACHM – ISSUE WITH HELMETED PORTRAIT – AU NGC GRADED GREEK BATRIA COIN (Inv. 19010)

$1,350.00

BACTRIAN KINGDOM. MENANDER I, 165/155-130 BC.
Silver tetradrachm, 9.60 g, 27 mm.
Obv. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY, diademed and draped bust of Menander right, wearing crested helmet.
Rev. Maharajasa tratasara Menamdrasa (Kharosthi), Athena Alkidemos striding left with raised thunderbolt, controls in fields.
HGC 12, 182; Bopearachchi, Series 15B.
NGC graded AU, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5. Aside from expanding his kingdom into an empire, Menander was apparently a patron of Buddhism and an ancient text called the Milinda Panha (“Questions of King Milinda”) recounts his philosophical discussions with a Buddhist wise man.