TYPE Indo-Parthian Kingdom, Gondophares (ca. 20-45 AD), Indian standard billon tetradrachm, 9.48g DESCRIPTION . Obv: King on horseback l., hand raised, monogram ("Gondophares tamgha") left, Greek legend around VASILEOS VASILEOU MEGALOU / YNDOFEROU (partial) Rev: Athena standing r., making gesture with right hand and holding long spear and shield in left, Kharosthi legend "Maharaja rajatiraja tratara devavrata / Gudupharasa" REFERENCE: Mit 8.1134v, Bop 201v (Malakand h.) GRADING: AVF / F, porous toned billon, scarce ORDER INFO: G3144, $95 Historical evidence regarding Indo-Parthian (as well as Indo-Scythian or even Indo-Greek, for that matter) rulers is limited. Indeed, much of it comes from numismatics, and there is still not even full agreement on the sequence of their reigns. However, their ties with the "Western" world are evidenced from facts ranging from the use of both Greek language and deities on coinage, to the apostolic journey of St. Thomas to the court of this very king Gondophares. The story of the latter mission of St. Thomas the Apostle following Christ's Crucifixion is historically quite interesting - stretching from the writings of Origen and Eusebius, through layers of oral tradition, to the reality of a still vibrant surviving Indian Orthodox Church.