Editing Menander II (section)

==Coins of Menander II==
[[File:Menander II with Nike.jpg|thumb|350x350px|Coin of Menander II. The obverse shows the King wearing a decorated helmet and diadem, with the Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ, ''Basileōs Dikaiou Menandrou'', "Of King Menander the Just". The reverse shows the winged goddess [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] holding a wreath. The [[Kharoshthi]] legend reads ''Maharajasa'' ''Dharmikasa'' ''Menadrasa'', "Of King Menander, the Follower of the [[Dharma]]".]]
The coins of Menander II bear the mention "Menander the Just", and "King of the [[Dharma]]" in [[Kharoshti]], suggesting that he adopted the Buddhist faith. Menander II struck only Indian silver. These depict the king in diadem or helmet of the type of Menander I, with a number of reverses:
a king on horseback, Nike and a sitting Zeus of the type of [[Antialkidas]] and [[Amyntas Nikator]], but with an eight-spoked Buddhist wheel instead of the small elephant.

His bronzes feature Athena standing, with spear and palm-branch, shield at her feet, making a benediction gesture with the right hand, similar to the [[Buddhist]] ''vitarka'' [[mudra]].  Other varieties feature a king performing the same gesture.

On the reverse is a lion, symbol of [[Buddhism]], as also seen on the pillars of the [[Mauryan]] King [[Ashoka]]. In general, the coins of Menander II are quite few, which tends to indicate a rather small rule.

A contemporary king to represent the Buddhist lion on his coins is the [[Indo-Scythian]] king [[Maues]], around 85 BC.