Artabanos II spent much of his reign in open conflict with Rome — Tiberius twice backed rival claimants to destabilize the Parthian throne, forcing Artabanos into temporary exile around 35–36 AD before he successfully reclaimed power. The tetradrachms struck at Seleucia on the Tigris during his reign document that turbulent hold on authority in real time, with die studies showing abrupt stylistic breaks that likely correspond to periods of interrupted mint control.
Sellwood 62.1 places this among his earlier Seleucian issues. The mint at Seleucia remained the dominant production center for Parthian silver despite sitting deep within nominally contested territory.
Artabanos II spent much of his reign in open conflict with Rome — Tiberius twice backed rival claimants to destabilize the Parthian throne, forcing Artabanos into temporary exile around 35–36 AD before he successfully reclaimed power. The tetradrachms struck at Seleucia on the Tigris during his reign document that turbulent hold on authority in real time, with die studies showing abrupt stylistic breaks that likely correspond to periods of interrupted mint control.
Sellwood 62.1 places this among his earlier Seleucian issues. The mint at Seleucia remained the dominant production center for Parthian silver despite sitting deep within nominally contested territory.