Coin of Demetrios, I (reverse)

Description

Demetrios I (222–180 BC) ruled the Indo-Greek kingdom of Bactria from 200 to 180 BC and minted this coin to commemorate his conquests over territories to the south, in present-day Pakistan. He linked his image on his coin to Alexander of Macedon (356–323 BC), who depicted himself with a lion scalp after his conquest of India; Demetrios substituted an elephant for the lion. On the reverse is Hercules, also identified with Alexander.

Provenance

(Spink & Son, Ltd., London, England, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1999); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1999–)

Coin of Demetrios, I (reverse)

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200–190 BCE

Accession Number

1999.318.b

Medium

silver

Dimensions

Diameter: 3.3 cm (1 5/16 in.)

Classification

Coins

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund