292
Mithradates II (121-91 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 15.93g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed and
medium bearded bust left, wearing spiral torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer seated right on omphalos, bow
in outstretched right hand, four-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYΣ
(S 24.1).
About very fine, small area of soft striking on the reverse.
Scarce variety
.
$ 2,500
293
Mithradates II (121-91 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.23g, 1h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed and
medium bearded bust left, wearing spiral torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer seated right on omphalos, bow
in outstretched right hand, four-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYΣ
, palm
branch in field right (S 24.3). About very fine, well centred designs.
Scarce variety
.
$ 2,500
294
Mithradates III (87-80 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.11g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed and
medium bearded bust left in tiara, decorated with a star on side, spiral torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer
enthroned right, seven-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY AYTOKPATOPOΣ ΦΙΛOΠATOPOΣ
ΕΠIΦΑNOYΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ
(S 31.1 (Orodes I); Sunrise 306). Good fine.
Very
rare
.
$ 4,800
Babylonian cuneiform sources confirm that Mithradates II died in 91 BC and was succeeded by his son Gotarzes I (91-87 BC). The
latter was, in his turn, followed on the throne by the issuer of S 31 coinage who styled himself ΦΙΛOΠATOPOΣ, “Loving his
Father”, perhaps an allusion to Gotarzes I (or even Mithradates II) as his father. Given that Josephus (Jewish Antiquities, 13.384-386)
reports that a reigning Arsacid prince called Mithradates received the defeated Seleucid ruler Demetrius III Eucaerus Philopator (96-
87 BC), the S 31 coinage may be allocated to this same Parthian king Mithradates. For further reading see: Assar G.R.F., “A Revised
Parthian Chronology of the Period 91-55 B.C.”, Parthica 8 (2007/8), 55-104 (at 69-75).
