Euthydemus II was the son of Bactrian King Demetrius I and was named after his grandfather. While little is known about his life, Euthydemus II came to power at some point  More »

Euthydemus II was the son of Bactrian King Demetrius I and was named after his grandfather. While little is known about his life, Euthydemus II came to power at some point around 190 B.C., either following his father’s death or alongside him as coregent. Euthydemus II is represented on his coinage as a boy, and it is likely that he died quite young. Numismatically, he has the distinction of being one of three Bactrian kings, along with Agathocles and Pantaleon, under whom coins were minted in nickel. Believed to have been struck between 190 and 160 B.C. for certain denominations, these coins were the first to be struck in nickel and the only known use of this metal for coinage until the 19th century. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2214)   « Less

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as  More »

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as Diodotus I, while serving as Satrap of Bactria, had earlier rebelled against his Seleucid overlords and declared independence for his kingdom, Euthydemos I in turn overthrew the dynasty of Diodotus and became king of Bactria around 230 B.C. It is not until 208 B.C., when Seleucid King Antiochus III invades Bactria, that Euthydemos again enters the historical record. Despite losses in their early battles, the Bactrians were successfully able to hold off the Seleucids during a three year siege of the fortified city of Bactra. The war ended with official recognition of Euthydemos as the ruler of an independent Bactria and a royal marriage between his son Demetrius and one of Antiochus’ daughters around 206 B.C. It is believed Euthydemos eventually died around 200 B.C. and it is likely that his last days saw the beginning of the Bactrian invasion of India, a conquest that would be completed by his son Demetrius who succeeded him. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2221b)   « Less

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by  More »

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by Euthydemos I or that he was independent of Euthydemid authority. Though little is known about his reign, we do know that he was likely overthrown by Eucratides, who lead a successful revolt against the Eythydemids and usurped the Bactrian throne. In the history of numismatics, Antimachos is distinguished as the first Hellenic ruler to declare himself “Basileos Teou” or “God- King.” Also notable, some of his coins feature the image of an elephant on the obverse, a position normally reserved for royal portraits. As elephants are traditionally one of the symbols for Buddhism, this feature has been interpreted as symbolizing the victory of the Bactrians against the Hindu Sunga Empire, which effectively freed the Buddhists in northern India. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2250)   « Less

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by  More »

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by Euthydemos I or that he was independent of Euthydemid authority. Though little is known about his reign, we do know that he was likely overthrown by Eucratides, who lead a successful revolt against the Eythydemids and usurped the Bactrian throne. In the history of numismatics, Antimachos is distinguished as the first Hellenic ruler to declare himself “Basileos Teou” or “God- King.” Also notable, some of his coins feature the image of an elephant on the obverse, a position normally reserved for royal portraits. As elephants are traditionally one of the symbols for Buddhism, this feature has been interpreted as symbolizing the victory of the Bactrians against the Hindu Sunga Empire, which effectively freed the Buddhists in northern India. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2253)   « Less

This coin represents King Eukratides I of Bactria, a land in central Asia (Afghanistan) that was conquered by Alexander. The adoption of the title 'Great King', implying  More »

This coin represents King Eukratides I of Bactria, a land in central Asia (Afghanistan) that was conquered by Alexander. The adoption of the title 'Great King', implying imperial rather than merely royal status, followed some years after Eukratides' consolidation of control over Bactria. He established himself as king of "the thousand cities of Bactria" and set out to enlarge his kingdom in all directions. While returning from one of his campaigns, he was killed by one of his sons, who seized the throne. Bactrian coins were made to the Greek Standard, and this is one of the most beautiful coins of the late Hellenistic period. Known for their strongly realistic portraits, this tetradrachm of Eukratides is no exception. He is depicted as a formidable warrior, wearing a cuirass and a bronze helmet over his diadem. . The helmet has the bull's ear and horn that appeared on the leopard-skin helmet of Seleukos I and that may have been meant to allude to descent from the Seleucids. His features are individualized, his expression stern. On the reverse, the Dioskouroi, Greek heroes noted for their horsemanship and prowess in battle, are shown charging with spears raised. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial to an ancient king and his kingdom passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2297)   « Less

Like many of the Bactrian kings, little is know about the life of Agathokles. He is believed to have risen to the throne around 185 B.C., either alongside or following  More »

Like many of the Bactrian kings, little is know about the life of Agathokles. He is believed to have risen to the throne around 185 B.C., either alongside or following another king named Pantaleon, whom may or may not have been his brother. Agathokles is known today primarily through his extensive coinage, among which is an interesting series of “pedigree” dynasty coins that link him to Alexander the Great as well as other Bactrian kings, including the founder of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Diodotus. Some historians have taken a critical view of these coins, suggesting that Agathokles might have been an usurper eager to establish links to legitimate rulers in order to prop up his authority. Agathokles also issued a series of bilingual coins with inscriptions either in Brahmi, Greek, or Kharoshthi and various symbols representing the Buddhist and Hindu faiths, demonstrating the extent to which early Greco- Bactrian rulers went in order to accommodate the cultures of the natives whose lands they dominated. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2298)   « Less

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by  More »

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by Euthydemos I or that he was independent of Euthydemid authority. Though little is known about his reign, we do know that he was likely overthrown by Eucratides, who lead a successful revolt against the Eythydemids and usurped the Bactrian throne. In the history of numismatics, Antimachos is distinguished as the first Hellenic ruler to declare himself “Basileos Teou” or “God- King.” Also notable, some of his coins feature the image of an elephant on the obverse, a position normally reserved for royal portraits. As elephants are traditionally one of the symbols for Buddhism, this feature has been interpreted as symbolizing the victory of the Bactrians against the Hindu Sunga Empire, which effectively freed the Buddhists in northern India. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2300)   « Less

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by  More »

Antimachos I ruled Bactria from around 185 to 170 B.C. The historical record offers conflicting suggestions that he either a member of the familial dynasty founded by Euthydemos I or that he was independent of Euthydemid authority. Though little is known about his reign, we do know that he was likely overthrown by Eucratides, who lead a successful revolt against the Eythydemids and usurped the Bactrian throne. In the history of numismatics, Antimachos is distinguished as the first Hellenic ruler to declare himself “Basileos Teou” or “God- King.” Also notable, some of his coins feature the image of an elephant on the obverse, a position normally reserved for royal portraits. As elephants are traditionally one of the symbols for Buddhism, this feature has been interpreted as symbolizing the victory of the Bactrians against the Hindu Sunga Empire, which effectively freed the Buddhists in northern India. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.2301)   « Less

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as  More »

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as Diodotus I, while serving as Satrap of Bactria, had earlier rebelled against his Seleucid overlords and declared independence for his kingdom, Euthydemos I in turn overthrew the dynasty of Diodotus and became king of Bactria around 230 B.C. It is not until 208 B.C., when Seleucid King Antiochus III invades Bactria, that Euthydemos again enters the historical record. Despite losses in their early battles, the Bactrians were successfully able to hold off the Seleucids during a three year siege of the fortified city of Bactra. The war ended with official recognition of Euthydemos as the ruler of an independent Bactria and a royal marriage between his son Demetrius and one of Antiochus’ daughters around 206 B.C. It is believed Euthydemos eventually died around 200 B.C. and it is likely that his last days saw the beginning of the Bactrian invasion of India, a conquest that would be completed by his son Demetrius who succeeded him. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.3043)   « Less

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as  More »

Few details are known about the life of Euthydemos I. He was possibly the Satrap of Sogdiana, a historical region in Central Asia just north of modern Afghanistan. Just as Diodotus I, while serving as Satrap of Bactria, had earlier rebelled against his Seleucid overlords and declared independence for his kingdom, Euthydemos I in turn overthrew the dynasty of Diodotus and became king of Bactria around 230 B.C. It is not until 208 B.C., when Seleucid King Antiochus III invades Bactria, that Euthydemos again enters the historical record. Despite losses in their early battles, the Bactrians were successfully able to hold off the Seleucids during a three year siege of the fortified city of Bactra. The war ended with official recognition of Euthydemos as the ruler of an independent Bactria and a royal marriage between his son Demetrius and one of Antiochus’ daughters around 206 B.C. It is believed Euthydemos eventually died around 200 B.C. and it is likely that his last days saw the beginning of the Bactrian invasion of India, a conquest that would be completed by his son Demetrius who succeeded him. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin is a memorial an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.3044)   « Less