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Euthydemos II (also spelled Euthydemus) may have been a son (grandson?) of Euthydemos I and most authors place him after Demetrios I, ruling for a short
time c. 185-180 BCE.
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Euthydemos II |
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Silver tetradrachm, c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 16.96 gm., Diam: 32 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Diademed head of king facing right, pearled border around /
Nude Herakles standing facing, holding club and lion skin in left hand,
and holding oout wreath in his right hand,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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The reverse on the silver coins of Euthydemos II is very similar to that of Demetrios I. Herakles continues as the reverse deity
of the Euthydemid family. While Demetrios had Herakles crowning himself, Euthydemos II has Herakles already crowned and holding a wreath in his right hand. One
might think that this suggests that Euthydemos II ruled first. If Euthydemos I named a son after himself, wouldn't he name his first-born that way? Plus, if Herakles is
already crowned, that suggests to me that this king was king by right. Demetrios having Herakles crowning himself might indicate that he acquired the crown not by
right but by his own efforts. On the other hand, as we shall see, the base metal coinage of Euthydemos II is linked to that of Pantaleon, who followed him. This suggests
that Euthydemos II did indeed come after Demetrios.
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Silver drachm, c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 3.85 gm., Diam: 19 mm., Die axis: 11 h
Diademed head of king facing right, pearled border around /
Nude Herakles standing facing, holding club and lion skin in left hand,
and holding oout wreath in his right hand,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Silver obol, c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 0.69 gm., Diam: 11 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Diademed head of king facing right, pearled border around /
Nude Herakles standing facing, holding club and lion skin in left hand,
and holding oout wreath in his right hand,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, AE tri-chalkon (triple unit), c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 11.89 gm., Diam: 29 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Laureate head of Apollo facing right, pearled border around /
Tripod,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Cupro-nickel dichalkon (double unit), c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 7.67 gm., Diam: 24 mm., Die axis: 11 h
Laureate head of Apollo facing right, pearled border around /
Tripod,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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The lower denominations of Euthydemos's base metal coinage are made of an unusual copper-nickel alloy. A similar alloy was
used by Pantaleon.
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Cupro-nickel chalkous (single unit), c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 4.99 gm., Diam: 22 mm., Die axis: 11 h
Laureate head of Apollo facing right, pearled border around /
Tripod,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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The lower denominations of Euthydemos's base metal coinage are made of an unusual copper-nickel alloy. A similar alloy was
used by Pantaleon.
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Bactria: Euthydemos II, Cupro-nickel lepton (half unit), c. 185-180 BCE
Weight: 1.42 gm., Diam: 18 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Laureate head of Apollo facing right, pearled border around /
Tripod,
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY
monogram in lower left field |
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This appears to be an unreported denomination ... it is too light for the single unit or chalkous of c. 4.2 gm.
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