Parthia

[W. Wroth, B. M. C., Parthia, 1903 (with references to the works of Prokesch, Longpérier, Markoff, and, especially, P. Gardner’s Parthian Coinage, 1877); Ritter A. von Petrowicz, Arsaciden-Münzen, Wien, 1904 (a Catalogue of the Petrowicz Coll.). Cf. also A. de la Fuÿe in Rev. Num., 1904, p. 317; 1905, p. 129.]

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The coinage of the Arsacid dynasty of the Parthian Empire covers a period of more than 450 years, extending from the reign of Tiridates I, B.C. 248/47-211/10, to the reigns of Artabanus V and Artavasdes (circ. A.D. 224-228), under whom the rule of the Arsacids was subverted by Ardashir and the sceptre of Iran transferred to the dynasty of the Sassanidae (see under Persis, p. 824 n.). The coins are of silver and bronze, the former struck at first on the Attic standard, which was afterwards reduced, or, it may be, superseded by the Phoenician. The chief denomination is the drachm (67-58 grains). The tetradrachm (250-200 grains) is also common, especially from the time of Phraates IV onwards. The triobol, diobol, and obol are much rarer.

The types are mainly copied or adapted from those of Seleucid coins. The principal type (found, throughout, on the drachms) consists of a Parthian warrior in mail-armour—probably the founder Arsaces—seated, at first on an omphalos, afterwards on a throne, and holding a bow, the pride of the Parthian soldier. The immediate model was probably a silver coin of Antiochus I or II representing Apollo on the omphalos. On the later tetradrachms the usual type is a figure of the Tyche of a Greek city (probably Seleuceia) presenting a diadem (wreath?) or palm-branch to the reigning king. The portrait-heads of the obverse display, in many cases, a fair measure of artistic skill, as for instance those of Artabanus I, Orodes I, &c. (B. M. C., Parth., p. lxxiv f.: for the types of the bronze coinage see ib., pp. lxxi-lxxiv).

The legends are in Greek, which becomes almost unintelligible on the later drachms. From the time of Volagases I the king’s name is sometimes written in Pehlvi characters.

A minute study of the monograms and fabric and a careful record of finds and provenance are much needed to throw light on the obscure subject of Parthian mint-places (cf. B. M. C., Parth., pp. lxxviii ff.). The earlier coins must necessarily have been struck in Parthia Proper, i. e. in the country lying to the south-east of the Caspian, or in the neighbouring countries; but after the conquest, under Mithradates I, of Mesopotamia and of the provinces that had formed part of the Great Median Satrapy, new mint-places must have been established. It is probable that the chief mint was at Seleuceia, the great Hellenic city on the west bank of the Tigris, or at Ctesiphon, the neighbouring city or suburb, on the eastern side of the river and the capital of the Empire at least as early as the time of Orodes I. The names of the provinces ΜΑΡΓΙΑΝΗ and ΑΡΕΙΑ are inscribed on drachms of Artabanus II(?); cf. ΤΡΑ[Ξ]ΙΑΝΗ and ΚΑΤΑΣΤΡΑΤΕΙΑ (B. M. C., p. 40).

The tetradrachms from the time of Phraates IV are regularly inscribed with the year and month of issue. The era is the Seleucid, beginning in the autumn of B.C. 312. The months are those of the Macedonian calendar, as follows:—Dios (= October?), Apellaeos, Audynaeos, Peritios, Dystros, Xandicos, Artemisios, Daesios, Panemos, Loös, Gorpiaeos, Hyperberetaeos, and Embolimos (the intercalary month).

The classification of the Arsacid coinage is far from certain, more especially in the period before Phraates IV, when the coins are, as a rule, undated, and only the dynastic name (‘Arsaces’) of each sovereign is recorded. Many difficulties also arise from our incomplete knowledge of the history of Parthia (cf. Wroth, ‘Rearrangement of Parthian Coinage,’ N. C., 1900, 181-202). The classification set forth below is that proposed in the British Museum Catalogue.

Arsaces the Founder. Circ. B.C. 250 - 211/210.

No coins?

Tiridates I. B.C. 248/247 - B.C. 211-210. Arsaces, son of Tiridates I. B.C. 210-191.	ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ.
	ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ.

FIG. 358.

¹ According to Breccia in Lehmann’s Klio, V (1905), p. 54, Phraates I reigned from B.C. 175 to circ. B.C. 160, and his successor, Mithradates I, from circ. B.C. 160 to 140/139.

FIG. 359.