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Drachm - Mithridates II
| Issuer | Parthian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 121 BC - 91 BC |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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| Reverse description | Arsaces I, the dynastic founder and divine ancestor, enthroned to the right upon an omphalos throne, wearing the Parthian court costume of khandis (long robe) and bashlik (pointed cap). He holds a strung bow horizontally in his extended right hand, a standard emblem of Arsacid sovereignty and martial authority. The exergue is defined by a materialized ground line beneath the throne. A four-line Greek legend surrounds the central design, reading BASILEOS MEGALOY ARSAKOY EPIPHANOYS, proclaiming 'of the Great King Arsaces, the Manifest (God).' Mint control marks and monograms appear in the fields to the left of the bust and behind the archer, varying by issue and workshop. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Mithridates II earned his epithet "the Great" through a series of military campaigns that expanded Parthian territory from Mesopotamia to Bactria, and it was during his reign that Parthia first made formal diplomatic contact with Rome — exchanging embassies on the Euphrates around 96 BC. The proliferation of die varieties within Sellwood 24 reflects the sheer volume of silver moving through the empire at its administrative peak.
His later issues show a progressive stylistic shift in the royal portrait, possibly reflecting court influence from the Hellenistic west. The series spans three decades of active production across multiple mints.