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Drachm - Phraates - Kingdom of Elymais Arsacid Dynasty
| Issuer | Kingdom of Elymais |
|---|---|
| Year | 100-150 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a highly schematic and degenerate design consisting of crescent-shaped dashes arranged across the field, representing the extreme stylistic degradation of what were once legible Arsacid legends and royal symbols. No discernible inscription or figural element survives in recognizable form. The overall execution reflects the pronounced decline in die-cutting craftsmanship characteristic of the final phase of Elymaean coinage in the second century AD. The irregular flan and flat strike further obscure any residual design detail. |
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| Mintage | ND (100-150) |
| Additional information |
Elymais, occupying the highland territory northeast of Susa, functioned as a semi-autonomous client kingdom under Parthian suzerainty for much of its history, issuing its own coinage in a tradition that grew increasingly debased as the dynasty progressed. By the time of Phraates — a name shared by several Elymaean rulers, making precise attribution within the dynasty notoriously difficult — the silver content had degraded substantially into billon, reflecting either fiscal pressure or deliberate royal policy mirroring broader monetary debasement across the Parthian sphere.
The multiple BMC references suggest ongoing scholarly uncertainty about which specific Phraates struck this type.