|
According to Bopearachchi, Lysias was the king to follow Zoilus I in the Paropamisadae, an area in what is now eastern
Afghanistan in the area of Kabul and Kapisa. He is known only from his coins. Apart from some very rare Attic weight drachms that were probably never
in circulation, Lysias issued only silver drachms and bronze quadruples. All the Indian-weight coin types he issued are illustrated below.
|
|
Lysias |
|
Lysias, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.44 gm. Diameter: 16 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
(Basileos Aniketou Lysiou ... of King Strato, the unconquered)
Nude Hercules standing facing, holding palm, club and lionskin in left arm,
crowning himself with his right hand, monograms at left and right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisikasa
Reference: MIG 261a, Bop 3A
|
|
The rendition of the king's name (in the genitive case) in the Kharoshthi legend is a bit odd: lisikasa.
Some coins render it as lisiasa, as on the next coin, which seems a little more reasonable. It seems one convention was followed at some
mints and the other convention at other mints.
|
|
Lysias, Silver drachm
Weight: 1.68 gm. Diameter: 16 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, wearing elephant-scalp head-dress, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Nude Hercules standing facing, holding palm, club and lionskin in left arm,
crowning himself with his right hand, monograms at left and right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisiasa
Reference: MIG 262c, Bop 4C
|
|
The elephant-scalp head-dress was introduced by
Demetrius I, who also featured a reverse of Hercules crowning himself. This strengthens the suggestion, made in the context of
Zoilus I, that these kings were members of the Euthydemid house.
|
|
Lysias, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.39 gm. Diameter: 17 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, wearing kausia, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Nude Hercules standing facing, holding palm, club and lionskin in left arm,
crowning himself with his right hand, monograms at left and right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisikasa
Reference: MIG 263a, Bop 7A
|
|
The kausia was a Macedonian hat, first worn on coins by
Antimachus I. It is thought that this hat was the ancestor of the pakol, the traditional hat worn by men in Afghanistan today. The Lysias drachms
with kausia are quite scarce. (photo, courtesy, CNG)
|
|
Lysias, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.45 gm. Diameter: 17 mm Die axis: 1h
Diademed bust of king right, wearing crested helmet, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Nude Hercules standing facing, holding palm, club and lionskin in left arm,
crowning himself with his right hand, monograms at left and right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisiasa
Reference: MIG 264b, Bop 6B
|
|
Lysias, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.39 gm. Diameter: 17 mm Die axis: 12h
Helmeted bust of king left, seen from behind, holding spear in right hand,
Greek legend around:: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Nude Hercules standing facing, holding palm, club and lionskin in left arm,
crowning himself with his right hand, monograms at left and right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisikasa
Reference: MIG 265a, Bop 5A
|
|
Lysias, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 8.90 gm. Dimensions: 18 x 17 mm Die axis: 12h
Bust of Herakles right, club on shoulder, Greek legend on three sides:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Elephant walking right, monograms below,
Kharoshthi legend on three sides: maharajasa / apadihatasa / lisikasa
Reference: MIG 266e, Bop 8A
|
|
Lysias, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 5.33 gm. Diameter: 24 mm Die axis: 12h
Bust of Herakles right, club and palm on shoulder, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΛYΣIOY
Elephant walking right, monogram below,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / lisiasa
Reference: MIG 267a, Bop 9B
|
|
|