Vardanes II is one of the most historically elusive Parthian rulers — his reign lasted perhaps three years, contested and poorly documented, during a period of near-continuous dynastic infighting among Arsacid claimants. Ecbatana, the old Median capital and summer residence of the Arsacid kings, served as a secondary mint whose output for this reign is considerably thinner than Seleucia-on-the-Tigris.
The Sellwood 69.13 attribution places this coin within a tightly defined group distinguished by specific celator style and die axis. The "var." notation against GCV 5807 suggests a minor die difference — not unusual for a mint producing at low volume under an unstable administration.
Vardanes II is one of the most historically elusive Parthian rulers — his reign lasted perhaps three years, contested and poorly documented, during a period of near-continuous dynastic infighting among Arsacid claimants. Ecbatana, the old Median capital and summer residence of the Arsacid kings, served as a secondary mint whose output for this reign is considerably thinner than Seleucia-on-the-Tigris.
The Sellwood 69.13 attribution places this coin within a tightly defined group distinguished by specific celator style and die axis. The "var." notation against GCV 5807 suggests a minor die difference — not unusual for a mint producing at low volume under an unstable administration.