Obol - Oxathres I King left of altar

Oxathres I ruled Persis as a vassal kingdom under Parthian overlordship, one of a succession of local dynasts who maintained Persian dynastic traditions long after the Achaemenid collapse. The kingdom produced its own coinage continuously for roughly three centuries in this period, a remarkable assertion of regional identity under foreign suzerainty. These fractional silver pieces circulated locally and were likely used in temple economies as much as in trade — the altar type has strong priestly associations in Persid coinage.

At 0.58g, the obol sits at the smallest practical denomination the Persis mints produced.