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Tetradrachm - Artabanus I
| Issuer | Parthian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 125 BC |
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| Composition | Silver |
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| Obverse description | Bearded bust of Artabanus I facing left, wearing a distinctive Parthian tiara or diadem decorated with a row of pellets or beaded ornament along the upper band, with flowing drapery at the neck. The portrait is rendered in a robust Hellenistic style with strong facial modelling, a prominent curved nose, and a short pointed beard. The hair falls in a series of carefully rendered waves or curls beneath the headdress. The entire effigy is set within a torc or dotted border, with no legend on the obverse field. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Artabanus I came to power following the death of Phraates II in battle against the Tocharians around 128 BC, inheriting a kingdom under sustained nomadic pressure from the east. His reign was short — he died around 123 BC, likely also in conflict with invading tribes — which keeps the output of his mint relatively constrained. Sellwood 21.3 places this emission within a tightly defined sequence, and the Sunrise examples give useful die comparanda for attribution disputes.