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Philoxenus (or Philoxenos) is another king about whom we know nothing other than what his coins tell us. He used many
of the same monograms as Antialcidas and Heliocles II and issued several types, including some rare Attic weight tetradrachms from three different mints.
The number of types, including some bronze types that have just been discovered in the last few years, indicates that he may have reigned for longer
than the five years assigned to him by Bopearachchi.
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Philoxenus |
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.82 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Basileos Aniketou Philoxenou ... (of King Philoxenus, the unconquered)
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monogram above at left,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 338a, Bop 3A
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The theme of the mounted king on the reverse calls to mind the coinage of Antimachus II.
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.80 gm. Diameter: 27.5 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Basileos Aniketou Philoxenou ... (of King Philoxenus, the unconquered)
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monogram above at left,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 338i, Bop 3J
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A remarkable coin, in which the head of the horse is presented in three quarter profile. Most
Philoxenus coins show the horse in full profile, but on this coin we see a different perspective and the quality of the artistry is particularly
high. Notice especially the flaring nostrils of the galloping horse.
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Philoxenus, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.39 gm. Dimensions: 14 x 14 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monogram below at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 339b, Bop 4H
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A curious feature of the coinage of Philoxenus is that, while his tetradrachms are round as usual, the
silver drachms are rectangular, a shape normally used for most of the bronze coinage.
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.77 gm. Diameter: 28 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed and helmeted bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monogram below at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 340c, Bop 5B
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.85 gm. Diameter: 26 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed and helmeted bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monogram below at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 340d, Bop 5C
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Philoxenus, Silver drachm
Weight: 2.41 gm. Dimensions: 15 x 15 mm Die axis: 12h
Diademed and helmeted bust of king right, Greek legend around:
BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monograms below at right and left,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 341e, Bop 6D
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 8.80 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 12h
Seen from behind, diademed bust of king left, holding spear,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monograms below at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop 7A
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Drachms of this type are also known.
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Philoxenus, Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.84 gm. Diameter: 27 mm Die axis: 11h
Seen from behind, diademed and helmeted bust of king left, holding spear,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Helmeted king mounted on prancing horse right,
monograms below at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 343c, Bop 9C
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No drachms of this type are known.
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Philoxenus, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 7.64 gm. Dimensions: 20 x 19 mm Die axis: 12h
City goddess standing left, holding cornucopia, and bestowing blessing
with outstretched right hand, monogram below at left,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Humped bull standing right, Kharoshthi va below,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 344d, Bop 10F
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Some have identified the deity on the reverse as Demeter, the goddess of the harvest.
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Philoxenus, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 8.05 gm. Dimensions: 22 x 21 mm Die axis: 12h
City goddess standing facing, holding cornucopia,
right hand on hip, monogram below at left,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Humped bull standing right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 345 var, Bop 11 var
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On this variety, the goddess is rendered facing and holding her right hand on her hip rather than
outstretched in blessing. This monogram is unattested for this variety, although known for other bronze coins of Philoxenus (see Bop 10G).
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Philoxenus, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 8.52 gm. Dimensions: 23 x 21 mm Die axis: 12h
Radiate Helios standing facing, holding sceptre in left arm,
outstretched right hand bestowing blessing,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Winged Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm, monogram at right,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG 346a, Bop 12A
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Philoxenus, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 7.94 gm. Dimensions: n.a. Die axis: 12h
Elephant walking right, monogram below,,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Horse walking right, Kharoshthi va below,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---, CNG Triton XII, lot 409
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A previously unknown type that appeared in a 2009 CNG auction. Note that the monograms on obverse and
reverse match the combination in the first bronze coin presented above. (photo, courtesy CNG)
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Philoxenus, Bronze Quadruple
Weight: 8.06 gm. Dimensions: 21 x 21 mm Die axis: 12h
Lion standing left with one paw raised,
Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANIKHTOY / ΦIΛOΞENOY
Humped bull standing right, monogram below,
Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa / apadihatasa / philasinasa
Reference: MIG ---, Bop ---, Senior ONS 192
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Another previously unknown type that was published by Bob Senior in ONS 192.
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