Prusias II was the Greek king of Bithynia. He was the son and successor of Prusias I and Apama III. He became king when his father died in 189 BC. Prusias II joined with the king of Pergamon, Eumenes II in a war against King Pharnaces I of Pontus (181–179 BC). He later invaded the territories of Pergamon (156–154 BC), only to be defeated, with Pergamon insisting on heavy reparations, including 500 talents and "twenty decked ships".
Prusias II married his maternal cousin Apame IV, a sister of Perseus of Macedon and a princess from the Antigonid dynasty, by whom he had a son, Nicomedes II, and a daughter, Apama,who would marry Dyegilos, son of Cotys IV, King of Thrace.
Towards the end of his life, Prusias II had children by a later wife, and wanted to make them his heirs in place of Nicomedes. He sent Nicomedes to Rome to ask its help in reducing the amount of these reparations, and directed the co-ambassador, Menas, to kill Nicomedes if the mission was unsuccessful. Despite the failure of the mission, Nicomedes persuaded Menas to betray Prusias, and Nicomedes declared himself king. Prusias had to renounce the kingship in favour of his son and was himself murdered in 149 BC.
Prusias II married his maternal cousin Apame IV, a sister of Perseus of Macedon and a princess from the Antigonid dynasty, by whom he had a son, Nicomedes II, and a daughter, Apama,who would marry Dyegilos, son of Cotys IV, King of Thrace.
Towards the end of his life, Prusias II had children by a later wife, and wanted to make them his heirs in place of Nicomedes. He sent Nicomedes to Rome to ask its help in reducing the amount of these reparations, and directed the co-ambassador, Menas, to kill Nicomedes if the mission was unsuccessful. Despite the failure of the mission, Nicomedes persuaded Menas to betray Prusias, and Nicomedes declared himself king. Prusias had to renounce the kingship in favour of his son and was himself murdered in 149 BC.
Epithet: Cynegus ("the Hunter")
(1)
Prusias II
Obverse: Wreathed head of Dionysos right
Reverse: Centaur advancing right, playing lyre; monogram below raised foreleg
Diameter:
21 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 5.73 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 5.73 g
Brown patina, about VF
RG 26; SNG Copenhagen 639; HGC 7, 629.
(2)
Prusias II
Obverse: head of Dionysos right wearing ivy-wreath
Reverse: Centaur Chieron walking right, wearing cloak, playing lyre BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠPOYΣIOY (NΦ)
Diameter:
20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.5 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.5 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 640; BMC Pontus p. 210, 8; Rec Gen II.3 p. 225, 26; SNGvA 256 var. (monogram); HGC 7 629; SGCV II 7266