LAST OF THE INDO-GREEK KINGS

The Indo-Greek kingdoms descended from Alexander the Greats conquest of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India in 327BC. Though they were cut-off from Greece for some 300 years, they continued many Greek traditions, including aspects of the Greek religion, language and Greek style coinage. One of the last of the Indo-Greek kings was Hermaios (Hermaeus). The exact dates of his reign are unknown, though numismatic sources list it as 40BC to 1BC. Some Biblical scholars believe that he may be one of the Three Kings from the East who visited Jesus’s birth. He was defeated by the Kushan ruler Kujala Kadphises, though his coins continued to be struck after his death. This silver Drachm features the diademed bust of Hermaios on one side and Zeus seated on the other.