EUKRATIDES II. Sub-king under Heliocles. AR. Attic tatradrachm.. B.M. References: E.J. Rapson, C.H.I., Pl. IV-9 M.V.D. Mohan, Indo Greek Coins, p.195, Pl.VI, 4. Obv: within bead-and-reel border, draped bust of Eukratides II r. diad. both ends stiffly suspended. Rev: Apollo standing to front, face inclined 1., looking along arrow held in r. hand, with 1. leaning on strung bow. To 1. mon. 142, R. BAΣIΛEΩ EYKPATI∆OY.
#Eukratides II was another indo #Greek king who was a successor of #Heliocles & grand son of Eukratides 1 Eucratides 2 ruled for a short time after the murder of his grand father, until he was dethroned in the dynastic civil war caused by the same murder by Heliocles, his father. During his earlier years, Eucratides 2 may have been a co-regent of his grand father: on his later coins he adds the title Soter (Saviour), which could be an indication that he had later on ruled in his own right. Soon after Senior Eucratides’ death, Heliocles was defeated by #yuezhi tribes, who expelled the Greek kings from Bactria. The existence of Eukratides, a younger brother or son of Heliokles, is now generally admitted by #scholars. Other things apart, the resemblance of the youthful features and his type on tetradrachm with those of Heliokles, is so striking that it is impossible to not to agree with the conclusions of Prof Macdonald. And the title Soter of the youthful Eukratides on a number of newly discovered #coins leaves little room for doubt about his existence. If Eukratides 1 had adopted this title in his youth, he would certainly have used it in his later coins, especially on those where Dioscutoi, the saviour gods, figure. Moreover, the engineering of the conspiracy that led to the accession of Eukratides I could hardly have been conceived and successfully executed by a man so young as portrayed on this set of coins. Eukratides II may have preceded #Plato as the sub-king of #Bactria, He is in no way connected with #India. His youthful portraits indicate that he died young, most probably, during the lifetime of Heliokles. https://youtu.be/_jr9NPr7B-A Attic tetradracm. B.M. M.V.D. Mohan Indo Greek Coins, p. 195, Pl.VI 4. Observation: Within bead-and-reel border draped bust of Eukratides 2 Died. Both ends stiffly suspended. Reverse Apollo standing to fron t, face inclined,, looking along arrow held in right hand, with left lean ing on strung bow.
