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Drachm - Arsaces II Hekatompylos
| Issuer | Parthian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 211 BC - 191 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Drachm (1) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Youthful beardless bust of the king in left profile, depicted without a diadem and wearing a distinctive bashlyk — a pointed soft cap with ear flaps and chin straps rendered in fine detail. The portrait exhibits an archaic Hellenistic style with bold, high-relief modeling of the facial features. The field is plain, and the design is enclosed by a border of pellets near the coin's edge. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ |
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| Additional information |
Arsaces II consolidated Parthian independence after his predecessor — and likely brother — Arsaces I was killed around 217 BC, possibly in conflict with the Seleucid satrap of the region. His reign coincided with the eastern campaigns of Antiochus III, who pushed deep into Parthia around 209 BC and forced a nominal Seleucid suzerainty that the Parthians endured rather than absorbed. The Sellwood 5 series is broadly attributed to his reign on stylistic and die-link grounds, though the exact sequencing of early Parthian issues remains contested among specialists.
Hekatompylos, the likely mint, served as the Parthian capital before Mithradatkert was established under later rulers.