Though many of you would think I am the last person on CT to buy an Indo-Greek coin, I will admit that I love their coins and history. The Indo-Greeks are a fascinating group, just the fact that they originated from Greece and made India their home for several centuries is in itself interesting. It is also cool to realize how much of an integrated society the Indo-Greeks had; for the most part the Greeks were the most elitist and racist people in Antiquity. This was not the case in India; there were reports of Greeks and Indians intermarrying and a peaceful coexistence between Buddhists and Greco-Pagans. Some Greeks even converted to Buddhism, the most notable one was an Indo-Greek king named Menander I. From the seller: Apollodotus II seems to have been a member of the dynasty of Menander I, since he used their typical deity Athena Alkidemos on most of his silver, and also Menander's title Soter ( "the Saviour"), on all his coins. On some coins, he also calls himself Philopator ( "the father-loving"), which proves that his father had been king before him. It is guessed that Amyntas or Epander could have been his father. Apollodotus' reign possibly began in the Punjab, when the Scythian king Maues ruled in Gandhara and its capital Taxila. What probably happened is that Apollodotus II took over Taxila after the death of Maues, though it is uncertain whether he defeated Maues or his descendants, or was allied or related to the dynasty of Maues. The late Indo-Greeks may have been rather mixed with both Indians and Scythians. R C Senior suggests that Apollodotus had struck an alliance with another Scythian king, Azes I. The Scythian hold of Gandhara loosened after the death of Maues, and petty kings of mixed or uncertain origin, like Artemidorus the son of Maues, Telephus and perhaps Menander II emerged in the area. These kings posed no threat to Apollodotus II, who on some of his coins assumed the title Basileus Megas ( "Great King"), in echo of Maues' boastful title "Great King of Kings". After the death of Apollodotus II, the Indo-Greek kingdom fragmented once more. Judging by the style of my coin it would seem that it was struck in the eastern Punjab by Indian celators. The kingdom of the Indian Greeks around the time that Apollodotus took power. The Coin THE SIZE IS 16.7 MM AND 2.08 GRAMS. OBVERSE – Diademed and draped bust of Apollodotus facing right, surrounded by Hellenic inscription. BASILEOS MEGALOU SOTIROS KAI FILOPATOROS APOLLODOTOU REVERSE – Athena Alkidemos advancing left, with aegis draped over left arm, and thunderbolt held in upraised right arm. Karoshthi inscription, with mintmark in the lower left field
Nice Indo-Greek coin. I have Apollodotus I. Kings of Baktria Indo-Greek Apollodotos I Circa 180/174-165/160 B.C. Square Drachm AR Square Drachm 20mm. 2.42g. Elephant standing right; (RK) monogram below. BASILEWS APOLLODOTOU SWTHROS Zebu standing right; W below. Bopearachchi 4E; SNG ANS 324-327 Good VF. Light toning in devices.
I haven't really wrapped my head around the difference between the Indo-Scythians and Bactrians...so I collect both!
Nice coin Mag-Max: Yeah, I am not ALWAYS in the Republic: ... BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. Æ Quadruple Unit (22 mm, 7.66 g, 12h). Obv: Diademed and draped bust right Rev: The Dioskouroi, holding palm fronds and spears, on horses rearing right Ref: Bopearachchi type 19; SNG ANS 551. Comments: light green patina with earthen overtones in devices.
Apollodotos I, Backtria, 174-165 BC AR, drachm, 14mm, 1.4g Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY SΩTHPOΣ; Elephant standing right, MI monogram below Rev.: Maharajasa Apaladatasa tradarasa (Karosthi script); Zebu standing right, Karosthi legend around, MI monogram below
Very cool coin @Magnus Maximus and a very enjoyable write-up!! I seem to have 'stalled' at this one coin of the type---a bit of a lower grade drachm of Menander:
Haven't really gotten into Indo-Greek coins yet, but I find their history and coinage very interesting. I'm particularly fond of the square coins as most of the ancients I see are round. I only have one and that was pretty rare as the coin store I go to don't really carry ancients. Bactria, Hermaios 40-1 B.C. Drachm O: BASILEWS EWTHROS ERMAOIU draped and diademed bust right RL Karosthi legend around, Zeus left hand extended right hand holding scepter, monograms left and right
