338 Notice of new Bactrian Coins, collected by [June, 



Mayus. 

 Fig. 4. — One of two copper coins of Mayus, or Nayus? in the Ventura 

 collection. 



Obverse. Head of an elephant, with proboscis elevated ; a bell hanging round 

 the neck. 



Reverse. The Cadnceus of Mercury, on the sides of which the words BA2IAE- 

 J22 MATOT, and a monogram composed of the letters M and I. 



This is an entirely new name, nor can it be read as a Greek word 

 in its present shape, although the characters are perfectly distinct on 

 the coin, and the style of engraving corresponds with the early and 

 pure Greek tvpes. There is no Pehlevi inscription. Could the third 

 letter be read as a gamma, the name MArOr might denote the union 

 of the office of chief priest of the Magi with that of king, and 

 the elephant's head found on the coins of Menander and of Demetrius, 

 might enable us to appropriate the present medal to one or the other 

 of these princes. 



Eucratides. 

 Figs. 5 to 10. — Coins of Eucratides the Great. 

 Fig. 5. — A silver tetradrachma, badly executed. Ventura. 

 Obverse. Head of the king, helmeted. 



Reverse. Two Bactrian horsemen, (or Castor and Pollux,) with wings on their 

 shoulders, and lances ; the two first letters of the legend corrupt, PV2IAEH2 

 MErAAOT ETKPATAOT ; monogram M. 



Fig. 6. — A beautiful didrachma, of the same prince. Ventura. 

 Obverse. A neat head, without helmet ; hair bound with fillet. 

 Reverse. Two horsemen ; inscription BA2lAEn2 EYKPATlAOY. 

 Fig. 7. — A very well preserved copper coin of the same prince, pre- 

 sented to me by Captain C. M. Wade, 

 Figs. 8, 9, and 10. — Three copper square coins of the same prince, 

 upon the reverse of which is seen, for the first time, the introduc- 

 tion of a Pehlevi legend. Several of the same coins are depicted in 

 Mr. Masson's paper ; they all agree in having the inscription on 

 three sides only of the square ; the Pehlevi letters are as follows : 

 'P v l + 1^^3') , T>ana"l 1>im* The plates will shew the variation to 

 which the letters of the name are liable ; in Roman characters they 

 may be rendered malakao kukdo eukratido. 



The history of Eucratides is too well known to require repetition 

 heref. Bayer fixes his ascent to the Bactrian throne in the year 



to Hikron It. of Syracuse, 270 — 216 A. C. The coins in this new and splendid 

 monument of art are all engraved by the medal-ruler invented by Bate, from 

 originals in the museum of Paris, and other great collections. 

 f See Journ. Vol. II. 409, and Maurice's Modern Hindostan, I. 98. 



