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Greek Coins :
Indo-Greek Coins : Indo-Greek Silver Tetradrachm of King Apollodotos II
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Indo-Greek Silver Tetradrachm of King Apollodotos II - C.2254
Origin: Northwestern India
Circa: 80
BC
to 65
BC
Collection: Numismatics
Medium: Silver
$1,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
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Obverse: Portrait of the King Wearing a Military
Helmet
Reverse: The Dioskouroi on Rearing Horses
By the time Apollodotos II began his reign
around 80 B.C., the Indo-Greek kingdoms were a
shadow of their former glorious selves.
Apollodotos was able to reverse this trend to
some extent, reconquering the former capital of
Taxila in western Punjab from Scythian rule and
expanding eastward, taking back territory that
had been lost to various native Indian kingdoms.
Based on numismatic evidence, it is surmised
that Apollodotos was a member of the dynasty
founded by the great King Menander I.
Historians speculate that Apollodotos II’s reign
may have actually started in Taxila after the
death of King Maues. Apollodotos may have
been related to the Indo-Scythian king (as later
Indo-Greek kings are believed to be of both
mixed Indian and Scythian origin) and inherited
the throne, or he may have defeated Maues
himself or his descendants and reclaimed the
city. It is also possible that Apollodotos II was
allied with the Scythians. His reign is thought to
have ended around 65 B.C., and the Indo-Greek
kingdoms became fractured and began to decline
once again.
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 emperor 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.2254)
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