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Drachm - Mithridates II Nisa mint
| Issuer | Parthian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 120 BC - 109 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Diademed and draped bust of Mithridates II facing left, rendered in the Hellenistic tradition with a long beard and tiara-style diadem. The portrait is modeled in high relief with naturalistic detail to the facial features and beaded torque at the neck. The Greek mint mark NI appears prominently in the right field, identifying the Nisa mint. The flan is of typical irregular hammered form, with the design well-centered. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Mithridates II came to power around 124 BC and rapidly reversed a period of Parthian weakness, reconquering territories lost to the Sakas and forcing tributary status on Armenian kingdoms — earning him the title "the Great" in contemporary sources. The Nisa mint, located near the Parthian heartland in modern Turkmenistan, was among the earliest and most politically significant of the Parthian striking facilities, closely associated with dynastic legitimacy rather than provincial administration. Sellwood 26 types represent the transitional phase of his coinage before the later portrait types showing a more elaborate diadem arrangement.