Drachm - Phraates III

Phraates III reclaimed the Parthian throne in 70 BC with direct Tigranes of Armenia backing, immediately facing pressure from both Rome and Pontus as Lucullus pushed east. His reign is defined by the diplomatic tightrope he walked — simultaneously negotiating with Pompey and with Mithridates VI, ultimately recognizing Rome's Euphrates boundary in exchange for acknowledgment of his royal title. The 62 BC date places this coin squarely in the aftermath of Pompey's eastern settlement.

The unrecorded monogram on a Sellwood 35 is a genuine cataloging gap — Sellwood's type series for Phraates III is well-documented, but workshop control marks remain incompletely mapped.