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Æ Tetradrachm - Maga
| Issuer | Characene, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 195-215 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Diademed and draped bust of Maga facing right, exhibiting a pointed beard and hair arranged in tight curls across the crown and bunched in distinctive masses at the sides of the head. The portraiture reflects the Parthian-influenced artistic tradition prevalent in the Characene kingdom, with strong linear rendering of facial features. The diadem, a hallmark of Hellenistic royal iconography, is clearly delineated across the brow. |
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| Mintage | ND (195-215) |
| Additional information |
Characene, the semi-autonomous kingdom centered on Charax Spasinou at the head of the Persian Gulf, occupied an awkward political position between Parthia and Rome — nominally Parthian in allegiance but commercially oriented toward both empires simultaneously. Maga ruled during a period when this balancing act was becoming increasingly untenable, as Septimius Severus was actively campaigning in Mesopotamia. Bronze tetradrachms of this kingdom are genuinely scarce; Characene's output was modest and the region's climate has not been kind to surviving specimens.