Chalkous - Artabanus II Ecbatana

Artabanus II spent much of his reign in open conflict with Rome and in repeated struggles against rival claimants backed by Parthian nobles — he was driven from power at least once before reasserting control. Small copper issues like this one circulated at the lowest denominational level, largely ignored by the political turmoil above them. Ecbatana, the old Median capital, served as one of his principal mints during the consolidation of his rule in the late teens and twenties AD.

The Sellwood 63.28 variety designation places this piece within a tightly classified subgroup distinguished by specific die characteristics documented by David Sellwood in his 1980 reference.