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Drachm - Phraates III
| Issuer | Parthian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 62 BC - 58 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 3.99 g |
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| Reverse description | The enthroned archer type typical of Parthian coinage: Arsaces I, the dynastic founder, is depicted seated right on an omphalos throne, holding a strung bow in his right hand. The central design is framed within a beaded square border. A Greek legend surrounds the scene within the border, reading ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ (King of Kings Arsaces, Benefactor, Illustrious, Philhellene). A monogram appears below the bow in the field. |
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| Reverse lettering | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ |
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Phraates III came to power around 70 BC after his father Sanatruces was killed, and he spent much of his reign playing Rome against Parthia's other great rival, the Pontic kingdom of Mithridates VI. Both Pompey and Lucullus courted him diplomatically during the Third Mithridatic War, and Phraates extracted territorial concessions from Rome in exchange for his neutrality — a rare instance of Parthia dictating terms rather than receiving them. He was murdered by his own sons, Mithridates III and Orodes II, around 57 BC.
The Sellwood 39 series represents his later coinage, distinguishable by a short beard variant that postdates his earlier issues.