Die-Struck Coin - 7291

Dynasty: Indo - Greek / Lysias

Alexander, the Greek ruler (r. 336-326 BCE) invaded the Gandhara and Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in 3rd century BCE. About a century after Alexander's invasion of India, his Greek successors who reached up to Bactria succeeded in extending their kingdom to North-West India into Afghanistan and Punjab around 200 BCE. All the forty-five Indo-Bactrian kings, who ruled these territories of India issued their coins. In fact, their history is mainly known through their coins.

Artistically executed, these coins show a bust of the king on one side and depiction of deities on the other. The Greek kings introduced bi-lingual coins written in two scripts, the die-striking technique and the depiction of selfportraits and commemorative coins. Their coins have inscriptions in Kharoshti or Brahmi scripts and in Greek.

The Greeks were followed by the Scythians and the Parthians.