Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena 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 XXI, lot 326; Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -, cf. 18-9 (tetradrachms); CNG E-115, 180 (misdescribed). 16.97g, 24mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

From the Arethusa Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 557;
Ex 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.