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Demetrius II, despite the congruence of name, does not appear to have been related to the Euthydemid Demetrios I, since he did not use Herakles on his coins.
He must have had a short reign as his coins are rare. The only coin types known are the silver tetradrachm and drachm. He is probably the same Demetrius mentioned by
Justin as "king of the Indians" who was overthrown by the usurper Eucratides. Bopearachchi dates his reign to c. 175-170 BCE, but it was probably even shorter, as the rarity of
his coins attests.
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Demetrius II |
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Bactria: Demetrios II, Silver tetradrachm, c. 175-170 BCE
Weight: 16.16 gm., Diam: 30 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Diademed bust of king facing right, bead and reel border around /
Athena standing facing, holding shield in left hand, spear in right
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY
monogram in lower left field |
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Bactria: Demetrios II, Silver drachm, c. 175-170 BCE
Weight: 3.97 gm., Diam: n.a., Die axis: 12 h
Diademed head of king facing right, wearing elephant scalp head-dress /
Nude Herakles standing facing, holding club and lion skin in left hand,
and crowning himself with his right hand,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY
monogram in lower left field |
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Photo courtesy CNG.
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