BAKTRIA (Greco-Baktrian Kingdom): Apollodotos I Soter. Circa 174-165 BC. AR Square Drachm (2.43 g). Mint: Gandhara or Paropamisadai. Indian standard. Obv: Sacred Elephant walking to right, monogram below. Greek Legends around / Rev: Zebu bull standing right, monogram below. 'Maharajasa Apaladatasa Tratarasa' (in Kharoshti) around. Attractive & Nicely toned. Very Rare in this quality. Bold EF, Among the most attractive examples of this type.

*Apollodotus I was one of the generals of Demetrius I of Bactria, the Greco-Bactrian king who invaded India. Apollodotus also issued a great number of bilingual Indian-standard square coins (As the Current Lot). Besides the usual royal title, the exact significance of the animals depicted on the coins is unclear. The sacred elephant may be the symbol of the city of Taxila or possibly the symbol of the white elephant who reputedly entered the womb of the mother of the Buddha, Queen Maya, in a dream, which would make it a symbol of Buddhism, one of the main religions of the Indo-Greek territories. Similarly, the sacred bull on the reverse may be a symbol of a city (Pushkhalavati), or a depiction of Shiva, making it a symbol of Hinduism, the other major religion at that time. The bull is often represented in a clearly erectile state, which reinforces its interpretation as a representation of Shiva.