JOURNAL 



ASIATIC SOCIETY 



Description of^ and deductions from a consideration of, some new 

 Bactrian coins. By Lieut Alexander Cunningham, Engineers. 



There are but iew notices of Bactrian history to be found in ancient 

 authors ; and some even, of those few, do not agree : so that we are 

 compelled, in the absence of historical aid, to examine the numismato- 

 logy of Bactria, as Butter's philosophers examined the moon, by its 

 own light. And thus a good cabinet of the coins of the Bactrian 

 princes, is to an experienced numismatist 



" A famous history enrolFd, 



In everlasting monunaents of brass — " 

 from which he may draw the data for a chronological arrangement of 

 those princes, many of whom are "of dynasties unknown to history." 

 In this paper, however, I shall confine myself to a notice of the pieces 

 figured in the accompanying plate, merely adding such inferences 

 as a careful examination of the coins has suggested to me. 



No. 1. A round copper coin of large size, and of brittle metal, 

 of middling execution, and in fair preservation. 



Obverse. Figure of Apollo standing half turned to the right, with the 

 chlamys falling behind, and a quiver at his shoulder ; holding in 

 his left hand an arrow pointed downwards, his right hand resting 

 on the arrow. Legend in three lines BA2IAEQ2 SQTHPOS 

 AnOAAO AOTOY ; » (coin) of the saviour king Apollodotus." 



Reverse. A tripod; — legend in Bactrian Pali 'P^i'i^Q "P*!*!"! 

 *PM"lTu, Maharajasa trddatasa Apdlddatasa ; "(coin) of the great 

 No. 105. New Series, No. 21. 5 g 



