Kandahar in Baktria, 75-65 BC., Indo-Scythians, Vonones with Spalyrises, Æ Hemiobol, Senior 69.2.

Baktria, Indo-Scythian Kings, Vonones with Spalyrises, Kandahar mint, ca. 75-65 BC.,
square Æ Hemiobol (21x22 mm / 8,01 g),
Obv.: [ΣΠAΛYPI] - OΣ ΔIKAIOY - AΔEΛΦOY TOY - BAΣIΛEΩΣ , king right on horseback.
Rev.: Herakles seated left on rock; Kartoshi legends around.
Mitchiner, ACW 2165-2167 ; Mitchiner IG 691a/b ; Senior, Indo-Scythian, 69.2 .

Kandahar was founded in 330 BC by Alexander the Great, near the site of the ancient city of Mundigak (established around 3000 BC). Previously, the city was the provincial capital of Arachosia and was ruled by the Achaemenid Empire. The main inhabitants of Arachosia were the Pactyans, an ancient Iranian tribe, who were probably one of the ancestors of today's Pashtuns. Kandahar was named Alexandria, a popular name given to many cities that Alexander founded or refounded during his conquests.

The city has been a frequent target for conquest because of its strategic location in Southern Asia, controlling the main trade route linking the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. It later became part of the Mauryan Empire after the departure of Alexander. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka erected a pillar there with a bilingual inscription in Greek and Aramaic. The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom occupied Kandahar after the Mauryans, but then lost the city to the Indo-Greek Kingdom.