Ancinet Historic Data from www.Google.com

1. The legacy of the Macedonians and
Greeks in India is yet to be truthfully
acknowledged.
The pillars of Asoka are the first examples of
Indian Buddhist art, and a careful study shows
that at least one of them was an altar of
Alexander brought from Topra near
Chandigarh.
This reveals the timeless
heritage of Alexander in India. The Greek
contribution to Indian culture goes far beyond

2. the Buddha icon. Buddhism, in this sense, is
an universal religion in which people of
many nations participated. Incidentally one of
the recently discovered Bamiyan fragments is
written in cursive Greek script and contains
passages praising various Buddhas.
Significantly, just as Diodotus has only
coins but no inscriptions, his contemporary
and neighbour Asoka has only inscriptions but
no coins. This clearly indicates that Asoka and
Diodotus complement each other. H. P. Ray's
satisfaction about Asoka's coins is bizarre.
Asoka never refers to his neighbour Diodotus
because he was Diodotus himself. It is very
likely that the Asokan Pillar which was brought
to Delhi from Punjab was in fact a re-
inscribed altar of Alexander.
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3. From Satrap to King
Antiochus I

4. Some of the earliest Greek coinage struck in Baktria
is attributed to the mint of Ai Khanoum, a “lost city”
rediscovered only in 1961[2]. Gold staters and
silver tetradrachms were issued in the name of
Antiochus I, son of Seleucus. Around 250 BCE, the
satrap Diodotus, followed by his son Diodotus II,
began to assert independence, eventually replacing
the Seleucid reverse image of seated Apollo with
their own symbol, Zeus hurling a thunderbolt.
Diodotus II
The coins are rare, and debate over which Diodotus
struck what coin when has entertained and enraged
generations of scholars. Some cataloguers simply
describe coins as “Diodotus I or II.”

5. There was at least one other mint besides Ai
Khanoum, possibly at Bactra, the ancient capital
(now a vast, circular ruin near the Afghan town of
Balkh), and there may have been a third ruler,
confusingly named Antiochus Nikator. They issued a
range of gold, silver and bronze denominations.
Many surviving Diodotid gold staters have deeply
chiseled “test cuts,” perhaps because plated
counterfeits circulated in later years. Undamaged
specimens command prices up to $20,000 or more.
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8581. PHOENICIA, SIDON, BA'ANA, 400-385 BC. AR Double Shekel,
27.96 gm, BMC.7, Betlyon 13. Sidonian war galley before the turretted
walls of Sidon, two Persian lions tail to tail below/King of Persia in war
chariot, Punic character above, below a ram in incuse with solar disk above
reverted head leaping l. VF. Excessively rare. The only other example I've
seen for some years, without a test cut, was being offered several years ago
at $27,000. This wonderful extra large and heavy silver coin is one of the
few that gives us a city view of a major city from ancient times reflecting the
height of Phoenician maritime power which enabled the Phoenicians to
extend their trading empire across the entire Mediterranean, down the west
coastof Africa, up the coastof Europe and perhaps beyond.

6. ………………………………………………………………………
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10274. PERSIA, ACHAEMENID KINGS. 375-340 BC, Siglos, 5.42g. Type
IV C. Carradice-46ff. Obv: Kneeling running king with bow and dagger, Rx:
Irregular incuse. Rare type with no quiver over king's right shoulder as there
typically is. Ex Gorney & Mosch 181, 12 October2009, lot 1574. Ex.
Harlan Berk. Exceptionally nice for these, even the buttons on the king's
garment are sharp. EF.
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