Phraates II inherited the Parthian throne from his father Mithridates I and almost immediately faced a catastrophic Seleucid invasion under Antiochus VII Sidetes — the last serious attempt by any Seleucid king to reclaim the eastern territories. Antiochus initially succeeded, pushing deep into Media, before Phraates turned the campaign by encouraging Seleucid troops to winter across dispersed Parthian towns, then coordinating a simultaneous uprising that annihilated the overextended army in 129 BC. Antiochus himself died in the fighting.
Sellwood 16.11 places this issue within the drachm series attributed to the early-to-mid portion of his reign, before the Seleucid crisis dominated Parthian resources.
Phraates II inherited the Parthian throne from his father Mithridates I and almost immediately faced a catastrophic Seleucid invasion under Antiochus VII Sidetes — the last serious attempt by any Seleucid king to reclaim the eastern territories. Antiochus initially succeeded, pushing deep into Media, before Phraates turned the campaign by encouraging Seleucid troops to winter across dispersed Parthian towns, then coordinating a simultaneous uprising that annihilated the overextended army in 129 BC. Antiochus himself died in the fighting.
Sellwood 16.11 places this issue within the drachm series attributed to the early-to-mid portion of his reign, before the Seleucid crisis dominated Parthian resources.