Indo-Greek Kingdom: Hippostratos c. 65 - 55 BC, 9.07 grams, 28 mm, large board flan, high relief bust of king, silver TetraDrachm. Obverse: Bare-headed, diademed bust of king right, Greek legend around: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY ΣΩTHPOΣ IΠΠOΣTPATOY (Basileos Megalou Soteros Hippostratou of King Hippostratos, the great, the saviour). Reverse: King mounted on horse walking right, monogram at right, Kharoshthi letters left and below, Kharoshthi legend around: Maharajasa Tratarasa Mahatasa Jayamtasa Hipustratasa. A rare varient with horse on reverse is walking, not prancing. Neither Mitchiner nor Bopearachchi list coins with this particular Kharoshthi letter below the horse. In Bopearachchi's reconstruction Hippostratos came to power as the successor to Apollodotus II, in the western part of his kingdom, while the weak Dionysios ascended to the throne in the eastern part. Senior assumes that the reigns of Apollodotus II and Hippostratos overlapped somewhat; in that case Hippostratos first ruled a kingdom situated to the west of Apollodotus' dominions. Just like Apollodotus II, Hippostratos calls himself Soter, "Saviour", on all his coins, and on some coins he also assumes the title Basileos Megas, "Great King", which he inherited from Apollodotus II. This may support Senior's scenario that Hippostratos extended his kingdom after Apollodotus' death. The relationship between these two kings remains uncertain due to lack of sources. Hippostratos did not, however, use the symbol of standing Athena Alkidemos, which was common to all other kings thought to be related to Apollodotus II. The two kings share only one monogram. The quantity and quality of the coinage of Hippostratos indicate a quite powerful king. Hippostratos seems to have fought rather successfully against the Indo-Scythian invaders, led by the Scythian king Azes I, but was ultimately defeated and became the last western Indo-Greek king. #pccf2021post159 https://www.instagram.com/p/CSeaw-8KeiC/?utm_medium=tumblr