Elephant/Zebu, Sterling Silver Pendant, Apollodotus I, Baktria Drachma Coin, ID15431

Description: Baktria, Apollodotus I, AR Drachma (165-160 BCE). Obverse: ‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ’ ("King Apollodotus the Savior"). Elephant standing right. Reverse:  Kharoshthi legend: Maharajasa tratarasa Apaladatasa ("Of the King, Savior, Apollodotus"). Humped zebu standing right.

History: Baktria was an ancient empire in Central Asia that was captured by Alexander the Great. The Bactrians became Hellenized and adopted the Greek alphabet. Apollodotus I was an Indo-Greek ruler known for expanding Greek influence into the Indian subcontinent. His coinage reflects a blend of Greek and Indian traditions, featuring Greek inscriptions alongside Prakrit in Kharoshthi script.

This square drachma follows the Indian numismatic tradition of punch-marked coinage, which frequently depicted animals such as elephants and bulls. Coins of this kind typically weighed around 2.5 grams and had diameters (or widths) from 15-18 millimeters. The shape and bilingual inscriptions were intentional to be accepted among both Greek and local merchants. Apollodotus’ coinage played a crucial role in the Indo-Greek monetary system, bridging Hellenistic and Indian cultures.