| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 307 Price realized: 13,000 GBP (Approx. 16,468 USD / 15,162 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, Sophytes AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 246/5-235 BC. Attic standard. Head of Seleukos(?) to right, wearing laurel wreathed Attic helmet decorated with spiral pattern on crest and eagle wings on cheek-guard; no letters on bust truncation / Cockerel standing to right; kerykeion behind, ΣΩΦYΤΟΥ to right. Jansari 70 var. (O1/R-), cf. 72 (O-/R1): an apparent hybrid of dies with a Sophytes(?) obv. and a reverse previously known with Athena obv.; cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 3A, pl. I, 1; for type cf. SNG ANS 21-23 (drachm); Mitchiner 29 (drachm); Whitehead NC 1943, pp. 64, 1 and pl. III, 7-8 (drachm). 16.72g, 28mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine; a bold and expressive portrait engraved in the finest Hellenistic style. Extremely Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Live Auction 4, 29 November 2018, lot 452 (hammer: GBP 19,000); Ex 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA. This portrait, which has all too often been simply assumed to be that of Sophytes himself, is eminently worthy of further scrutiny. It is the work of a highly talented individual, and depicts what should by any account be a great general, helmeted in Attic style and wearing the laurel wreath of a conqueror. Unfortunately the actions of Sophytes, whatever they might have been, were either not recorded or have long since been lost. We cannot therefore determine whether this individual may indeed have performed such deeds as to be worthy of commemoration in such a fashion. In examining the features of the individual depicted on this coin however, it becomes immediately apparent that there are distinct similarities with certain idealised portraits of Seleukos I. It is conceivable that we should see in this portrait not an image of the unknown ruler Sophytes, but an idealised image of the deified Seleukos, as can be found on the somewhat earlier coinage of Philetairos. Those images (cf. in particular Gulbenkian 966) have nearly identical features - in particular the heavy brow, aquiline nose, down-turned mouth and prominent chin. The historical sources offer us few clues as to the dating of Sophytes' rule. They tell us that Stasanor was satrap of Baktria until at least 316 BC, and that Seleukos reintegrated Baktria into his empire on his eastern anabasis in c. 305. An early date therefore seems highly unlikely. Turning to the evidence of the coin itself, numismatists have correctly observed that the obverse portrait is derived from the similar type of Seleukos on his trophy tetradrachms (SC 174), which should be dated to after c. 301 BC; the presence of the somewhat worn elephant-quadriga tetradrachm in the present group pushes the date even further to the right, and into the third century. Now, the presence of this type in this group along with coins of Andragoras indicates a considerably later date than previously supposed. We have already proposed with good reason that the coinage of Andragoras should be dated to c.246/5-239/8 BC and that given the patterns of wear that may be observed upon them, there is sufficient justification to argue for the dating of Sophytes' named coinage to c. 246/5-235, after Andragoras had begun coining but before Diodotos II would have been free to dispose of any lesser regional powers. This turbulent time period has already afforded us a plausible reason for the striking of Andragoras' coinage. It is possible that Sophytes too was prompted to look to the security of his own territory following the effective withdrawal of the central government's influence in that area. Diodotos I too struck his own coinage in Baktria, which while bearing his own portrait on the obverse nevertheless maintained the name 'Antiochos' on the reverse as a token symbol of loyalty. Does Sophytes coinage, with a distinctly 'local' reverse type, seek to achieve the same veneer of loyalty as that of Philetairos and Diodotos by placing the image of Seleukos I, the founder of the Seleukid empire, on his obverse? Estimate: 10000 GBP |  |
Match 1:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 308 Price realized: 7,500 GBP (Approx. 9,501 USD / 8,747 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, Sophytes AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 246/5-235 BC. Attic standard. Head of Seleukos(?) to right, wearing laurel wreathed Attic helmet decorated with spiral pattern on crest and eagle wings on cheek-guard; M on bust truncation / Cockerel standing to right; kerykeion behind, ΣΩΦYΤΟΥ to right. Jansari 71 (O2/R2) = Roma XV, 348 (same dies); cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 3A, pl. I, 1; for type cf. SNG ANS 21-23 (drachm); Mitchiner 29 (drachm); Whitehead NC 1943, pp. 64, 1 and pl. III, 7-8 (drachm); Roma XIV, 365 var. (no M under truncation). 17.04g, 25mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; light flatness on rev. but otherwise a very pleasant example of this highly desirable type, with a pleasant light cabinet tone. Extremely Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 58, 20 June 2019, lot 401 (hammer: GBP 16,000); Ex 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA. Estimate: 10000 GBP |  |
Match 2:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 309 Price realized: 2,400 GBP (Approx. 3,040 USD / 2,799 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, Sophytes AR Drachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 246/5-235 BC. Attic standard. Head of Seleukos(?) to right, wearing laurel wreathed Attic helmet decorated with spiral pattern on crest and eagle wings on cheek-guard; M on bust truncation / Cockerel standing to right; kerykeion behind, ΣΩΦYΤΟΥ to right. Jansari 47 (O26/R33, this coin); Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 3A, pl. I, 3; SNG ANS 21-23; Mitchiner 29b; HGC 12, 14. 3.86g, 16mm, 6h. Near Mint State. Very Rare. This coin published in S. Jansari, 'The Sophytes Coins: from the Punjab to Bactria and back again', in NC 2018; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 411 (hammer: GBP 4,000); Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 339; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XV, 5 April 2018, lot 350; Ex 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA. Estimate: 4000 GBP |  |
Match 3:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 310 Price realized: 1,200 GBP (Approx. 1,520 USD / 1,400 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, Sophytes AR Drachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 246/5-235 BC. Attic standard. Head of Seleukos(?) to right, wearing laurel wreathed Attic helmet decorated with spiral pattern on crest and eagle wings on cheek-guard; M on bust truncation / Cockerel standing to right; kerykeion behind, ΣΩΦYΤΟΥ to right. Jansari 13-52; Roma XIV, 367 var. (MNA on bust truncation); Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 3A, pl. I, 3; SNG ANS 21-24; Mitchiner 29a; cf. Whitehead NC 1943, pp. 64, 1 and pl. III, 7-8; HGC 12, 14. 3.61g, 16mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; iridescent cabinet tone. Very Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 456. Estimate: 2000 GBP |  |
Match 4:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 305 Price realized: 1,300 GBP (Approx. 1,647 USD / 1,516 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, grape bunch over tail, AΘE before. Roma XIV, 354; Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner 13e; N&A 13-15; SNG ANS -; Svoronos pl. 109, 8; Leu 83, 263. 17.00g, 24mm, 6h. About Extremely Fine. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVII, 28 March 2019, lot 593; Ex the 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA. Estimate: 1000 GBP |  |
Match 5:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 306 Price realized: 650 GBP (Approx. 823 USD / 758 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; MNA behind / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before. Roma XIV, 349; Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -, cf. 18-19 (tetradrachms); CNG E-115, 180 (misdescribed). 8.13g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVII, 28 March 2019, lot 592; Ex the 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA. The appearance of the letters MNA on their own, not preceded by ΣTA, which also appear in abbreviated form as MN and M, both on this 'Athenian Series' coinage and on the helmeted portrait issues of Sophytes, is suggestive of MNA being either a magistral mark, or an engraver's signature. While the prominent placement of MNA on both the double daric and the tetradrachm would seem to be counter-indicative of its being a signature because of its brazen size and obtrusiveness, on the helmeted portrait coins of Sophytes it is very discreetly placed on the bust truncation. The fact that it is so well hidden (and on the tetradrachms, abbreviated simply to 'M') very strongly argues against it being a magistrate or subordinate official's name. The Baktrian 'Athenian series' coinage, judging from its lack of wear, must have been issued immediately prior to or concurrent to Sophytes' named coinage. Estimate: 1000 GBP |  |
