Nomos 17

BACTRIA OR PARTHIA. Sophytes or Andragoras, circa 305-294 or 246/5-239/8 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 16.90 g, 6 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing modified Attic helmet, disc earring and pearl necklace; behind head, monogram. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing to right, head facing; behind, in field to left, galley prow right and vine branch with leaf and bunch of grapes. Mitchiner 13. H. Nicolet-Pierre & M. Amandry, RN 1994, 42 (same dies). SNG ANS 3. Toned, clear and well-centered. Very slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the Vineyard Collection, ex Hauck & Aufhauser 17, 18 March 2003, 1, and from a find that appeared in Paris in 1990.

Not only is there considerable controversy over who issued these coins, but there is also considerable uncertainty over when and where they were struck. Nicolet and Amandry assumed, as did everyone else, that the eastern imitations of Athens were all produced by a certain Sophytes, who signed silver issues in the very late 4th and early 3rd centuries. However, it has been more recently suggested that the Sophytes coinage, the anonymous Athenian imitations, and the coinage of another eastern potentate, Andragoras, all be brought down to c. 246/5-239/8 or 235 BC, with the Athenian types being minted in the Parthian city of Hekatompylos, and those of Sophytes ascribed to an uncertain mint in the Oxus area.