King of Thrace 359-351 BCE
AE 14.55g
Topalov 2003, 105 (S. 244) Kratzer auf Rv.
Ex Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH
Amatokos II has a complicated history, like most of his Odrysian contemporaries. We know that he liked fat coins, as this one is extremely thick. His son, Teres II, minted very similar fat coins, as did his father Amatokos I. Clearly they had a thing for grape vines and thick coins.
Some scholars speculate that these were more vanity coins, since they’re all relatively rare and were found in small areas. When it came to paying soldiers, most of that was in silver – likely in Philip II staters.
Amatokos II lived around the same time as Philip II, which was unfortunate, because that wasn’t a good time to be a Thracian. At that time, his major rival was Kersebleptes, but eventually both would be fodder for Philip.
Amatokos II and Kersebleptes had a lot of fun playing Game of Thrones with the Athenians and Philip II, and eventually Kersebleptes invaded the territory of Amatokos II, which gave Philip II the necessary pretext to annihilate Kersebleptes. The only problem is Amatokos II also disappears from the historical record around then, so it seems he didn’t fare so well in the encounter.
Nevertheless, his son Teres II continued to mint similarly fat coins, so the kingdom must have survived for some time.
Kotys I is murdered in Thrace. Amatokos II becomes king.
Kersebleptes agrees to partition the Odrysian kingdom with Amatokos II and Berisades.
Kersebleptes plots with his brother-in-law Charidemos to eliminate Ketriporis and Amatokos.
Kersebleptes and Philip II plan joint action against Amatokos II. The agreement breaks down, and Kersebleptes allies with Athens and attacks Amatokos II himself.
Philip II attacks and defeats Kersebleptes due to his attack on Amatokos II, who disappears from sources. Teres II seems to take over.