Hermaeus was the last Greek ruler of Bactria in any meaningful sense, his kingdom collapsing under Yuezhi and Scythian pressure sometime around 70 BC. What followed was a prolonged minting phenomenon: Scythian and Indo-Scythian rulers continued striking coins in his name for generations after his death, not out of tribute but likely to smooth trade and maintain monetary familiarity in a region still accustomed to Greek royal coinage. The practice stretched across more than a century of issuers.
Die alignment and fabric details distinguish the imitative series from Hermaeus's own issues — flan preparation particularly degrades across later strikes.
Hermaeus was the last Greek ruler of Bactria in any meaningful sense, his kingdom collapsing under Yuezhi and Scythian pressure sometime around 70 BC. What followed was a prolonged minting phenomenon: Scythian and Indo-Scythian rulers continued striking coins in his name for generations after his death, not out of tribute but likely to smooth trade and maintain monetary familiarity in a region still accustomed to Greek royal coinage. The practice stretched across more than a century of issuers.
Die alignment and fabric details distinguish the imitative series from Hermaeus's own issues — flan preparation particularly degrades across later strikes.