GREEK COINS
KINGS of BITHYNIA
Prusias II Kynegos, 182-149 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 33mm, 16.81 g 1), Nikomedeia. Head of Prusias II to right, wearing a winged diadem and with a slight beard. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ Zeus standing left, half draped, crowning the king’s name with an olive wreath held in his right hand and holding a long scepter in his left; to left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt over monogram. RG 10 var. With a remarkably expressive and realistic portrait. Some minor scratches, otherwise , good very fine. Prusias II was a king about whom little good can be said. His epithet means ”the Hunter” and that was the activity he liked most. As his reign went on he became more and more disliked; he was killed after his much more attractive son Nikomedes revolted against him and took over the throne to universal acclaim.