Item: i8914
 
Certified Authentic Ancient Coin of:

King of Bactria & India - Azes II - Indo-Scythian King- Reigned: 35 B.C.-5 A.D. -
Bronze 12mm (1.4 grams) Struck circa 35 B.C. - 5 A.D. -
Azes II standing right.
Athena standing right with spear and shield.

* Numismatic Note: Azes II is considered to be one of the three magii that traveled to see Jesus Christ's birth. ---

 "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him'

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.'"
Matthew 2:1-8, NIV

Azes II was King of Bactria, which is present day Afghanistan, from 35 B.C. to 5 A.D. He was so revered that he was referred to as the "Great King," and his coinage included his image and name 25 years after his death. Azes was a descendant of Alexander the Great. The reverse of his coins bore an image of him mounted on a horse, probably resulting from his being an explorer, traveler, and warrior (some of his coinage depicts him in armor). They also included an Indian Script on the reverse, making them one of the earliest bulingual coins ever minted. Much of his coinage was minted prior to the Birth of Jesus Christ, and some most likely was minted during the year (if not the very day) of Christs birth. All of this coinage was in circulation during the period of Christs life.

The Magi that visited the Christ Child in Bethlehem were most likely Zorastrian Astrologer/Astronomers. This accounts for their seeking out the miracle of the Star of Bethlehem. Most likely, they traveled on horseback. I believe (and plan a research paper on the subject in the future) that King Azes II was accompanied by these Astronomers during his trip to seek out this star. They were a part of the Royal Entourage of the Great King on one of his journies, this time to seek out the Star of Bethlehem and the Christ Child. This also explains why Herod was immediately aware of their visit ("Then Herod sent for the Magi secretly..."). He was also most likely quite agitated that a visiting King and his entrourage sought out this new "King of the Jews" and failed to pay him the courtesy of a audiance upon his arrival, not to mention the threat he sensed from the idea of the Jews having a new King. Note that Bactra is located to the east of Bethlehem and Judea.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.


Azes II (reigned circa 35-12 BCE), was an Indo-Scythian king who completed the rule of the Scythians in northern India.

 Decline of the Scythians

After the death of Azes II, the rule of the Indo-Scythians in northwestern India finally crumbled with the conquest of the Kushans, one of the five tribes of the Yuezhi who had lived in Bactria for more than a century, and who were then expanding into India to create a Kushan Empire.

Soon after, the Parthians invaded from the west. Their leader Gondophares temporarily displaced the Kushans and founded the Indo-Parthian Kingdom that was to last until the middle of the 1st century CE.

The Kushans ultimately regained northwestern India circa 75 CE, where they were to prosper for several centuries.

Some Indo-Scythian kingdom persisted in northern India until the 5th century CE.

 Coinage

Azes II's coins use Greek and Kharoshti, depict a Greek goddess as his protector, and thereby essential follow the numismatic model of the Greek kings if the Indo-Greek kingdom, suggesting a high willingness to accommodate Greek culture. An originality of the Indo-Scythians is to show the king on a horse, rather than his bust in profile as did the Greeks.

Other coins of Azes depict the Buddhist lion and the Brahmanic cow of Shiva, suggesting religious tolerance towards his subjects.


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