328 Notes on Bactrian and Indo-Scythic Coins. [JuNE, 



coins, with corrupted Greek inscriptions, and the Hindu coins attributed 

 with reasonable certainty to the Kanouj dynasties, immediately ante" 

 rior to the Mahomedan irruptions of the 1 1th century. In a few more 

 years we shall doubtless have the whole series, from the time of Alex- 

 ander downwards, fully developed : — at present in these detached 

 notices we can expect to do no more than hazard fresh conjectures, 

 and wipe out former errors as we advance. 



There are but few authors to assist us in our task, and the passages 

 from them have been so often repeated, that it will be unnecessary 

 again to quote. Neither Bayer's work nor the Baron de Sacy's are in 

 our library : but, I have to thank Professor Wilson for kindly sending 

 me sketches made by himself of the Bactrian coins, depicted in the former 

 author, and in Sestini and Visconti, several of which I am able to 

 recognize. Of individual friends, who have favored me with their aid 

 in furnishing specimens and information, I cannot omit mentioning 

 Captain C. M. Wade, Dr. Swiney, and Col. Stacy* : the ser- 

 vices of the latter numismatologist will be more fully appreciated 

 when we come to talk of Hindu coins. In Bactrian, the field is of 

 course less open to collectors on this side the Satlej ; yet not a few 

 very fine coins have been picked up even within the limits so success- 

 fully run over by Col. Tod himself. 



The coins of the two first princes of Bactria, by name Theodotus 

 the I. and II. are yet unknown ; perhaps they never struck money, but 

 were content with the Syrian currency then prevalent. With Eu- 

 thydemus begins our collection — a purely Grecian coinage, bearing 

 only Greek inscriptions, and, as far as hitherto known, all of silver. The 

 coins of Demetrius are more rare, but equally beautiful with those of 

 his predecessor, and supposed father. Heliocles, the prince intro- 

 duced on the authority of Visconti, will, I think, turn out to be our 

 Agathocles. With Menander begins the system of native legends 

 on the reverse, which is followed up without intermission throughout 

 the whole series to the barbarous Kadphises. Some only of the coins 

 of Eucratides have a Pehlevi legend, as will be hereafter explained. 



As the majority of the coins now to be introduced have these native 

 legends on the reverse, it will better enable us to describe them if we 

 begin by explaining what we have been able to make of the alpha- 

 bet of this native language ; which, from its marked difference from 

 other types of the same character, I have ventured to term Bactrian- 

 Pehlevi. 



* Of Indian coins, my list of donors would be considerably swelled; but it would 

 be too like ostentation to enumerate them iu this place. 



