Agathocles Dikaios King Of Bactria was a Buddhist Indo-Greek king, who reigned between around 190 and 180 BC.
Very little is known about him, apart from his extensive coinage.
Coins issued by him along with his contemporary kings Pantaleon and Euthydemus II, are unique in the ancient world, in that they were the first in the world to issue copper-nickel (75/25 ratio) coins, an alloy technology only known by the Chinese at the time (some weapons from the Warring States period were in copper-nickel alloy).
Copper-Nickel alloy was used in United States for coinage only in 19th century.
These coins are indication of extensive trade with China during those times.
History of Greeks in Ancient India
Greeks tried to invade India long back during Mahabharat times (5100 BCE).
Yavana was the name of one of the sons of Maharaja Yayati who was given the part of the world known as Turkey to rule. Therefore the Turks are Yavanas due to being descendants of Maharaja Yavana. The Yavanas were therefore kshatriyas (kings), and later on, by giving up the brahminical culture, they became mleccha-yavanas (Mlecchas are regarded as non-vedic or those who left vedic system of lifestyle). Descriptions of the Yavanas are in the Mahabharata (Adi-parva 85.34). Another prince called Turvasu was also known as Yavana, and his country was conquered by Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas. The western Yavana joined with Duryodhana in the Battle of Kurukshetra under the pressure of Karna. It is also foretold that these Yavanas also would invade India in the Kaliyuga which later proved to be true in 326 BC afterwards. (Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) 2.4.18)
kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye ‘nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavishnave namah
Translation : Kirata (tribals in central india), Huna (Chinese), Andhra (South Indian Kings), Pulinda (central indian kings), Pulkasa (Russians), Abhira (Sindh province kings), Sumbha, Yavana (Greeks and Turks), members of the Khasa (Mongolian) races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord (Krishna), due to His being the supreme power. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.
KalaYavan II was a Yavana/Yona/Greek ruler of western province (present afghanistan) during Mahabharat times and he was burnt alive due to a trick played by Krishna with Muchukunda (Refer Muchukunda’s story).
Bilingual (Hindu & Buddhist) Coinage of Indo-Greek Kings found in Afghanistan
Agathocles issued an intriguing range of bilingual coinage, displaying what seems to be Buddhist as well as Hinduist symbolism.
manufactured according to the Indian standard, using either Brahmi (ancient indian script), Greek or Kharoshthi (ancient script used in gandhar kingdom : present day afghanistan & pakistan), and displaying symbols of the various faiths in India, tend to indicate a considerable willingness to accommodate local languages and beliefs, to an extent unseen in subsequent Indo-Greek kings.
Six Indian-standard silver drachmas were discovered at Ai-Khanoum (Afghanistan) in 1970, which depict Hindu deities such as Vasudeva-Krishna, Balarama-Sankarshana, Lakshmi etc.