King Eukratides, ruler of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom from 171 – 145 BC, was widely respected for his conquests of Parapamisadae and Gandhara in India, although his quick death, carried out by his own son, altered his impression on many. The coin itself is silver, and, being an Obol, worth one-sixth of a Drachma. Due to its relatively low value, being worth just under six – hundredths of a cent, it must have been used for daily transactions. While it was low in value, the six hundredths of a cent valuation is not completely reflective of its worth due to differences in purchasing power.

On the frontside, the coin depicts Eukratides I with a Diademed, a royal headband often worn by prominent Greek, Roman, and Egyptian rulers. The coin shows him at a side profile, with his face appearing to look to the right, an alignment common for Greeks and Romans.

On the backside, the caps of Dioskouri appear, decorated with palm fonds and denoted with the monogram BAΣIΛEΩΣ / EΥKΡATIΔOΥ on the sides. The caps represent the births of two mythical twins, Castor and Pollux, symbolizing both his military triumph and pileus. Pileus is a symbol of freedom, often displayed on the back of coins or associated with Libertas. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / EΥKΡATIΔOΥ, meaning “of King Eukratides” does not represent anything beyond a convention. On the other hand, the palm fonds represent victory, triumph, and immortality, often awarded to champion athletes.

Even in death, Eukratides’s legacy lives on, with many having continued to use his coinage as the base of the financial system, and his coins providing great insights into the ancient world.

February 24 @ 23:05
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