Æ Tetradrachm - Attambelos IV

Characene was a semi-autonomous kingdom wedged between the Parthian Empire and the Persian Gulf, controlling the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates and growing wealthy on Indian Ocean trade. Attambelos IV ruled during a period of tight Parthian overlordship, and his coinage reflects that dependency — the bronze tetradrachm was the workhorse denomination for local commerce in a region where Parthian silver dominated official exchange.

BMC Greek 11 places this type firmly within the sequence established by George Hill's 1922 catalogue, which remains the primary reference for Characenean bronzes.