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Artemidoros must have been roughly contmporary with Hermaios, as an overstrike of an Artemidoros coin on one of Hermaios and Calliope
is known. His coins were extremely rare until a few wer found in Sarai Saleh (about 25 miles north of Islamabad) and then more in a hoard found in Ambala. Overall, however,
his coins are still rare. Below are listed some unlisted, perhaps unique, types.
If Artemidors ruled in both Sarai Saleh and Ambala, where his coins have been found, he must have had quite an extensive kingdom. Bopearachchi lists his date as c 85 BCE
only, implying an extremely short reign, but the number of coin types indicates that his reign was more than ephemeral. I have therefore extended the dates of his reign slightly.
Recently, Senior discovered a coin of Artemidoros that suggested he might have been the son of the "Indo-Scythian" king Maues. We will discuss this coin below. (Some
photos courtesy CNG.)
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Artemidoros |
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Artemidoros, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.45 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 12h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 398, Bop 2A
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It is not surprising that Artemidoros, whose name means "gift of Artemis," chose Artemis as the featured
deity on his coins. Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, is recognized by her attributes, the bow and the quiver. |
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.38 gm. Diameter: 18 mm Die axis: 12h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 399a, Bop 3C
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.39 gm. Diameter: 16 mm Die axis: 11h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 399 var, Bop 3 var
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This coin features a monogram not known on any other coin of Artemidoros. |
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Artemidoros, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.31 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 12h
Helmeted, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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The helmeted tetradrachm is not listed in any of the catalogues of the coins of Artemidoros; this coin is
therefore presumed to be unique. |
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.35 gm. Diameter: 16 mm Die axis: 12h
Helmeted, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 401a, Bop 4A
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Artemidoros, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.59 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 12h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king left, seen from behind, holding thrusting spear in right hand,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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Another coin type not listed in any of the catalogues of the coins of Artemidoros. |
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 1.90 gm. Diameter: 17 mm Die axis: 1h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king left, seen from behind, holding thrusting spear in right hand,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Artemis standing left, seen from behind, holding a drawn bow with a quiver on her back
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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Another coin type not listed in any of the catalogues of the coins of Artemidoros. |
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Artemidoros, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.82 gm. Diameter: 28 mm Die axis: 12h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Wiinged Nike standing right, holding ribboned palm over her left shoulder,
and offering ribboned wreath in outstretched right hand,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 402a, Bop 5A
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.37 gm. Diameter: 16 mm Die axis: 11h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Wiinged Nike standing right, holding ribboned palm over her left shoulder,
and offering ribboned wreath in outstretched right hand,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 403c, Bop 6B
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Artemidoros, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.17 gm. Diameter: 15 mm Die axis: 11h
Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Wiinged Nike standing right, holding ribboned palm over her left shoulder,
and offering ribboned wreath in outstretched right hand,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 403 var, Bop 6C var
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This coin has an additional monogram that looks like an inverted B to the left of Nike, a variation
not listed in any of the catalogues of the coins of Artemidoros. |
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Artemidoros, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.61 gm. Diameter: 26 mm Die axis: 11:30h
Helmeted, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Wiinged Nike standing right, holding ribboned palm over her left shoulder,
and offering ribboned wreath in outstretched right hand,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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Another unlisted type, presumed to be unique. |
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Artemidoros, Bronze hemi-obol or quadruple
Weight: 7.12 gm. Diameter: 22 mm Die axis: 12h
Artemis standing facing, reaching for an arrow, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Humped bull standing right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 404, Bop 7
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Artemidoros, Bronze hemi-obol or quadruple
Weight: 8.66 gm. Diameter: 20 mm Die axis: 12h
Artemis standing facing, reaching for an arrow, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Humped bull standing right,
Kharoshthi legend around: rajatirajasa / moasaputrasa cha / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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A remarkable coin recently discovered by Robert Senior. The Greek legend is the usual one, but the
Kharoshthi legend on the reverse translates as: "King of kings, son of Maues and Artemidoros." Senior interpreted this to mean that Artemidoros was the son
of Maues, but another possible interpretation is that the legend names Artemidoros and the son of Maues, who may then have been joint rulers. One factor
supporting the second interpretation is that this would be the only coin on which Artemidoros is called "King of kings" if he is indeed the son of Maues. If, on
the other hand, he is simply allied with the son of Maues, that son could be a King of kings just as his father was. Either way,
the coin indicates that Artemidoros ruled after Maues had at least begun his reign and that there was a close connection between the two. It raises the
question of whether Artemidoros should be classified as an Indo-Scythian king or perhaps Maues should be classified as an Indo-Greek king. |
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Artemidoros, AE chalkous or unit
Weight: 1.39 gm. Diameter: 13 mm Die axis: 12h
Artemis standing facing, reaching for an arrow, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Palms and caps of the Dioscuri,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---
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A recent discovery that has a highly unusual design: palms and the caps of the Dioscuri were not used
on any other coins of Artemidoros and don't really fit in his schema.. |
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Artemidoros, AE chalkous or unit
Weight: 1.47 gm. Dimensions: 15 x 16 mm Die axis: 12h
Artemis standing facing, reaching for an arrow, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / APTEMIΔOPOY
(Basileos Anikitou Artemidorou ... of King Artemidoros, the Unconquered)
Lion standing left,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / artemitorasa
Reference: MIG 406, Bop 8
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