2018-10-09 Tue

The History of the Indo-Greek Kingdom covers a period from the 2nd century BCE to the beginning of the 1st century CE in northern and northwestern India. There were over 30 Indo-Greek kings, often in competition with each other on different territories. Many of them are only known through their coins.

Antialcidas Nikephoros was a Greek king of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, who reigned from his capital at Taxila. Antialcidas is known from an inscription left on a pillar (the Heliodorus pillar), which was erected by his ambassador Heliodorus at the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra at Vidisha, near Sanchi. It states that he was a devotee of Vishnu. His coins are found in plenty.

He issued a number of bilingual Indian silver types: diademed, wearing a helmet with bull's horns or a flat kausia. He also appears throwing a spear. The coin depicted besides has a Helmeted bust of King in centre looking to right on the obverse. No legend. The reverse has Zeus sitting on a throne wearing a crown holding a winged Nike in out stretched right hand; on left Elephant bust looking right. Greek legend around starting at 8 o'clock "Basileos Nikephorou" reading left to right clockwise. Name of the king "Antialkidaou" is stated below starting at 7 o'clock reading left to right counter clockwise.

Image Courtesy: numismatics.org