drachm 20-50 AD Authentic of Gondophares (c.20-50 CE), Indo-Parthians, Northern India

Diademed and bearded bust, right. corrupt Greek legend / Pallas standing right with thunderbolt and shield. Karosthi legend and control marks. Brown patina. 12mm, 2.34 grams. Pieper 290-295; Senior ISCH 222. 

Gondophares I (c. AD 20–50) was the founder and most important ruler of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom, which at its height controlled parts of Arachosia, Drangiana, Gandhara and the northwestern Indian subcontinent. Originally a Parthian or Iranian regional ruler, Gondophares established an independent kingdom and adopted grand titles such as “King of Kings,” issuing an extensive coinage in Greek and Kharoshthi. He is also traditionally associated with the Apostle Thomas, whose legendary visit to the court of a king named Gundaphar in the Acts of Thomas may preserve a memory of the historical Gondophares.

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