SCYTHIAN (Saka) coins.
    The Scythians were Indo-europeanoid nomads who came out of central Asia and marauded around making trouble from India to Thrace in Bulgaria.  Everyone hated them but they had some pretty good tactics and weapons and they did well for themselves.  In Pakistan and Afghanistan they destroyed the Greeks over the course of about a century.  When they started to settle down they lost their edge and got pushed over by other nomads invading from the same general region they had come from.
    Scythian "history" is pretty sketchy in the details.  Mitchiner in "Oriental Coins..." tells a story completely different than Senior in "Indo-Scythian Coins..."  For example, M has two kings named Azes, Senior only one.  I don't yet have an opinion about these details, though I have found M has tended to make declarative statements regarding situations in which the truth is certainly not known.  Perhaps this tendency is merely a matter of style, but it has left him subject to obsolescence as new information has ravaged his structure.  Senior, on the other hand, is appropriately humble, using lots of "perhapses."  I like that.
    There is not a coherent and unified progression of rulers.  Rather, there were several sets of tribes, often at war with each other, some of them documenting their doings with coinage.  In most cases it is not clear what relationship there was between the various named rulers, and then there were the anonymous imitative coins
    There was also extensive interaction, including intermarriage, with the Greeks.
    I will be adding the Senior attributions from here on out.  At some point I might adopt Senior's king sequence.

CHORESMIA, c. 100 BC-45 AD, billon-copper drachm, MA-1879+, bust R / horse L in imitation of Heliokles' types, struck in or near Balkh, crust spot, F $75.00
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CHORESMIA, c. 100 BC-45 AD, billon-copper drachm, MA-1879+, bust R / horse L in imitation of Heliokles' types, struck in or near Balkh, F $75.00
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CHORESMIA, c. 100 BC-45 AD, billon-copper drachm, S-A22.2D, MA-1879+, bust R / horse L in imitation of Heliokles' types, struck in or near Balkh, crusty VG $44.00
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CHORESMIA, c. 100 BC-45 AD, billon-copper drachm, MA-1879+, bust R / horse L in imitation of Heliokles' types, struck in or near Balkh, crusty VG $44.00 sold 12/19/2007
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SCYTHIAN, anonymous, c. 110-100 BC, silver square hemidrachm, MA-2142+, horse R, head turned L / Nike walking R, (Kandahar), crude aVF $60.00 sold (many years ago)
 
 
 
 

    Here begins the main line of Scythian coins.  The denominations are silver tetradrachm and drachm, copper "unit" (hexachalkon & pentachalkon to Mitchiner), halves, quarters, and "fractions."  Silver declines to billon and ends up copper, or almost.  Most of the copper issues are associated with a silver issue and vice versa.  My presentation is NOT organized by series, but rather by metal and size.  Maybe I'll change the order at some point.  Or maybe not.  And because I'm me there are exceptions, inadvertent or deliberate.
SCYTHIAN, Maues, c. 90-57 BC, silver drachm, S1.1D, NA-2182, Zeus standing L / Nike standing R holding wreath, Taxila, porous, cl VG $27.00
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SCYTHIAN, Maues, c. 90-57 BC, silver plated drachm, MA-2182v1, S-1.2D, Zeus standing 1/4 L / Nike standing R, Taxila, F $46.00
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SCYTHIAN, Maues, c. 90-57 BC, 25mm bronze hemiobol, MA-2196, elephant head R / caduceus, Kohat, few small scratches, VF $160.00
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SCYTHIAN, Maues, c. 90-57 BC, 25mm bronze hemiobol, S5.1, MA-2196, elephant head R / caduceus, Kohat, F $85.00
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SCYTHIAN, Maues, c. 90-57 BC, 18x20mm bronze dichalkon, MA-2191, S6.1, horse R / bow & quiver, Kohat, scratches obv., VF $88.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, silver drachm, MA-2147, S65.3D, horseman with whip & spear R / Zeus standing L, Bannu, F $66.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, silver drachm, MA-2151, horseman with whip & spear R / Zeus standing L, Bannu, F $43.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 18x20mm bronze hemiobol, S66.2, MA-2154,  Herakles standing / Pallas standing L, old scratch, F $36.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 20x20mm bronze hemiobol, S66.2, MA-2154,  Herakles standing / Pallas standing L, porosity rev, a bit off center, F $36.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 18x20mm bronze hemiobol, S66.2, MA-2154,  Herakles standing / Pallas standing L, light scratches, VG $32.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 23x18mm bronze unit, S66.x, MA-2154v,  Herakles standing facing / Pallas standing L, monogram illegible, (note how Herakles is truncated at the hips - a "barbarous" rendition?  Or overstruck on something?) F $21.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 18x20mm bronze hemiobol, S66.2, MA-2154, Herakles standing / Pallas standing L, G/F $27.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 23x18 bronze hemiobol, MA-2155, Herakles standing / Pallas standing L, Bannu, VG $36.00
.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-55 BC, 20x15 bronze 1/2 unit, 4.6g, S66.1a, MA-nl, Herakles standing L / Pallas standing L, XF $250.00
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SCYTHIAN, Vonones & Spalahores, c. 75-65 BC, silver drachm, S65.4aD, MA-2151, horseman with spear R / Zeus standing facing, Taxila, monogram 39, porous, cleaned VF $53.00
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SCYTHIAN, Spalahores & Spalagadames, c. 75 BC, 23mm square bronze hemiobol, S69.3, MA-2168, king on horse R / Hercules seated L, Demetrias, a bit rough, VF $75.00
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SCYTHIAN, Spalyrises, c. 65-40 BC, 24mm bronze hemiobol, MA-2175, king on horse R / bow & arrow, Kandahar, crude aVF $125.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, S56.72T, MA-2277, horseman with spear R / city goddess L, Dhram before horse, Taxila Sirsukh, crude style, VF $155.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, S56.520T, MA-2270,  horseman with spear R / city goddess R, Vhra above horse's head, Sa before / Sa R of goddessTaxila Sirsukh, that 4-shaped scratch on rev. is much lighter than it looks in the picture, VF $155.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, S56.581T, MA-2270v3, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing R, Sa before horse / Si above goddess' brazier, Taxila Sirsukh, F $61.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, MA-2270, horseman with spear R / city goddess standing R, Taxila Sirsukh, corroded VG $38.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, MA-2270v,  horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing R, Taxila, bits of crust, F $88.00 sold 10/3/2007
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver tetradrachm, MA-2270v, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing R, Taxila, bits of crust, F $88.00 sold 10/3/2007
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, silver drachm, MA-nl, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing L, Taxila Sirsukh, aVF $55.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, billon drachm, MA-nl, horseman w/ spear R / Zeus standing facing, Taxila, rev. as MA-2230, VF $45.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, billon drachm, MA-nl, S-56.591D, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing L, Sa before horse, Si-o R of goddess, F $55.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, fouree (plated) silver drachm, cf. MA-2245 (tetradrachm), horseman w/ whip R / City goddess standing L, S. Chach, VF $42.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, 25mm square bronze pentachalkon, MA-2282, horseman w/ spear R / bull R, Hazara, VF $92.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, 22x21mm rectangular bronze unit, S58.5, MA-2286, 11.15g,  horseman w/ spear R / bull R, Taxila, VG $23.00
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a) SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, 19x20mm bronze trichalkon, S59.1, MA-2286, horseman R / Herakles seated L, Taxila, Ti above horse, Si above monogram, some crust, F-VF $44.00
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b) SCYTHIAN, Azilizes, 57-c.35 BC, 19x20mm bronze trichalkon, S59.1, MA-2286, horseman R / Herakles seated L, Taxila, Ti above horse, Si above monogram, some crust, F-VF $44.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S82.400T, MA-2215v, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing L, Ci above horse's head, Sa below, Taxila, crude aF $44.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 23mm square bronze pentachalkon, S92.3 obv. / S92.4 rev.,  horseman with spear R / bull R, Taxila, F $36.00 sold 11/4/2007
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2206, Zeus standing L / Nike standing R, Bannu, dark horn, F $33.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver plated drachm, MA-2206v1, Zeus standing L / Nike standing R, Kohat, aVF $33.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2216v, horseman w/ spear R / city goddess standing L, Taxila, mark as #2213, VF $55.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver plated tetradrachm, MA-2212, horseman with spear R / city goddess standing L, Taxila (mark like MA-2215), aVF $135.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2230, horseman w/ spear R / Zeus standing with upright scepter, Taxila (mark like MA-2215), F/VF $53.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2230, horseman w/ spear R / Zeus standing with upright scepter, Taxila, mushy obv., slightly porous F $34.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S80.11D, MA-2230v1, horseman w/ spear R / Zeus standing with upright scepter, Taxila, bit of crust, XF+ $121.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2234, horseman w/ spear R / Pallas standing L, Hazara, VF $53.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S90.13D, MA-2234, horseman w/ spear R / Pallas standing L, Hazara, XF $89.00 sold 4/9/2008
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2235, horseman w/ spear R / Pallas standing L, Hazara, F+ $35.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2235, horseman w/ spear R / Pallas standing L, Hazara, bit of crust, VF $53.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S90.10D, horseman with spear R / Pallas standing L with raised shield & raised thunderbolt, Pushkalavati, monogram 117 L, A R, cleaned aVF $42.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S90.20Dv, MA-2234, horseman with spear R / Pallas standing L with raised shield & raised thunderbolt, Pushkalavati, monogram 117 L, A R, dot in exergue below horse, VF $73.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S-90.70D, MA-2235v3, horseman w/ spear R / Pallas standing L, Hazara, F $35.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 

SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S98.110, MA-2357v, horseman with whip R / Pallas standing R, Pushkalavati, monograms 43 & 27, La before horse, scratches, F $26.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S98.114D, MA-2356, horseman with whip R / Pallas standing R, Pushkalavati, monograms 47 & 28, Da before horse, bits of crust, aVF $42.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S98.207D, MA-2353, horseman R / Pallas standing R, Pushkalavati, monograms 116 & 123, Bu before horse, VG $31.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, S98.422D, MA-2372, horseman R / Pallas stg R, Pushkalavati, mongrams 103 above, & 37 L, #95 R, Da before horse, aVF/VF+ $67.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 27x26mm bronze hemiobol, 11g, MA-2210, S77.1, Poseidon standing R, foot on river god / Yakshi between vines, Bannu, a bit crusty, F $90.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC (Senior), (Azes II, c 35 BC - 5 AD (Mitchiner)), 24x20mm bronze pentachalkon, S84.3, MA-2325v, horseman R / bull R, Taxila Sirsukh, Dra before horse, small cut on horse, some crust rev., aVF $61.00 sold 10/3/2007
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 22x25mm rectangular bronze unit, S121.10. MA-2237v, horseman R with spear / bull R, RAJARAJASA, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, bits of crust, traces of bronze disease, F/VF, fix it up it'll be nice, $48.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 23mm square bronze, S121.11, MA-2237v, horseman R with spear / bull R, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, scratches, VG/aVF $35.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 23mm square bronze, S121.11, MA-2237v, horseman R with spear / bull R, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, bits of crust, F $27.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 

SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 24x22mm rectangular bronze, S121.12, MA-2237, horseman R with spear / bull R, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, Dhra before bull, Sam before horse, laminated flan cuts through bull's neck, otherwise nice VF $75.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, AE24x22 rectangular, 22mm square bronze, S121.13, MA-2237 series, horseman R with spear / bull R, rajarajasa, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, Sam before horse, rev. die rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, weak legends, F $22.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 21x22mm rectangular bronze, S121.20, MA-2237 series, horseman R with spear / bull R, RAJARAJASA, Pushkalavati, monogram 37, crude obv., VF $55.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 24x26mm rectangular bronze pentachalkon, MA-2237, horseman with spear R / bull R, Hazara, scratches, VG/F $30.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 19mm square bronze trichalkon, MA-2239v1, horseman w/ spear R / bull R, Hazara, F $31.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 25mm bronze pentachalkon, MA-2298, elephant R / bull R, Hazara, aF $35.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 25mm bronze pentachalkon, MA-2298, elephant R / bull R, Hazara, F $40.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 25mm bronze pentachalkon, ~MA-2298, elephant R / bull R, Hazara, choice VF  $65.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, 17mm bronze chalkous, MA-2301, S-100.32b, elephant R / bull R, Hazara, aVF $63.00 sold 11/4/2007
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver drachm, MA-2306, S-96.13D, horseman w/ whip R / Pallas standing facing, Hazara, Mu before horse, F $36.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver plated drachm, MA-2309,  horseman with whip R / Pallas standing L, shield behind, Taxila Sirsukh, F $24.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver plated drachm, MA-2310,  horseman w/ whip R / Pallas standing L, shield behind, Taxila Sirsukh, VF $31.00 sold
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver plated drachm, S96.65, MA-2310, horseman w/ whip R / Pallas standing L, VF $38.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S98.325Tv1, MA-2368, horseman R / Pallas standing R, RAJARASA..., Jha before horse, Taxila, F $155.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S98.309T, MA-2369, horseman with whip R / Pallas standing R, Ka before horse, VF $145.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S98.353T, MA-2360, horseman with whip R / Pallas standing R, Ga before horse, VF $145.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S98.357T, MA-2360, horseman R / Pallas standing R, RAJARASA..., Ba before horse, Taxila, bits of crust, aVF $180.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S98.424, MA-2366, horseman R / Pallas standing R, Taxila Sirsukh, VF $90.00 sold 4/17/2008
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, S-99.69, MA-2316, horseman R / Poseidon standing R, Taxila Sirsukh, I before horse, aVF $73.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, silver tetradrachm, MA-2316, S-99.69T, horseman R / Poseidon standing R, Taxila Sirsukh, I before horse, F $56.00
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SCYTHIAN, Azes, c. 58-20 BC, billon tetradrachm, MA-2318, horseman R / Poseidon standing R, Taxila Sirsukh, somewhat porous F $48.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 

more Scythian coins

I think maybe you might like to read Robert Tye's piece on the horseman type through history
Indo-Parthian coins - another branch of the Scythians
Indo-Greek coins - Scythians probably intermarried with them
 

Archive of sold items

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