c h a r a c e n e

The Kingdom of Characene, located at the head of the Persian Gulf near the mouth of the Tigris, served as a trading center between the Roman Empire and the East for over three centuries. It fell under Sasanian rule in 228 AD.


r e f e r e n c e s



Kings of Characene

Hyspaosines (125 - 121 BC)

Apodacos (110 - 105 BC)

Tiraios I (91 - 89 BC)

Tiraios II (79 - 48 BC)

Artabazos (49 - 48 BC)

Attambelos I (47 - 24 BC)

Theonesios I (25 - 18 BC)

Attambelos II (18 BC - 8 AD)

Attambelos II (18 BC - 8 AD)
AR Tetradrachm
SGCv2 6184v. [Attambelos II], Mitchiner ACW 726 [Attambelos II]
26 mm.
13.85 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bearded, diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field. Greek legend.


Attambelos II (18 BC - 8 AD)
AR Tetradrachm
SGCv2 6184v. [Attambelos II], Mitchiner ACW 726 [Attambelos II]
25 mm.
14.6 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Bearded, diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field. Greek legend.
Note: Courtesy Sam al-Ali collection.


Attambelos II (18 BC - 8 AD)
AR Tetradrachm
SGCv2 6184v. [Attambelos II], Mitchiner ACW 726 [Attambelos II]
25 x 26 mm.
15.25 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bearded, diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field (?). Greek legend.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Abinergaos I (9 - 22 AD)

Abinergaos I (9 - 22 AD)
AR Tetradrachm
SGCv2 5922v. [Adinerglos], Mitchiner ACW 727 [Abinerglos I]
26 mm.
14.74 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bearded, diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field, no letter under arm. Greek legend.

Attambelos III (28 - 44 AD)

Attambelos III (28 - 44 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
SGCv2 6184v. [Attambelos II], Mitchiner ACW 726 [Attambelos II]
25 mm.
13.91 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bearded, diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field. Greek legend.

Theonesios II (45 - 52 AD)

Attambelos IV (53 - 64 AD)

Attambelos IV (53 - 64 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
circa 54 - 59 AD (Seleucid date 365 - 370)
SGIC 5924v. [Attambelos III], Mitchiner ACW 729v. [Attambelos III]
25 mm.
15.41 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Young, beardless (?), diademed head right; unlisted countermark (Dobbins CTA Monogram -) on neck and in right field (Dobbins CTA Monogram -).
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram (?) in upper left field and unclear (Dobbins CTA Letter 3/'Y' (?)) under arm. Greek legend. Seleucid date in exergue (off flan).


Attambelos IV (53 - 64 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
circa 54 - 59 AD (Seleucid date 365 - 370)
SGIC 5924v. [Attambelos III], Mitchiner ACW 729v. [Attambelos III]
24 x 26 mm.
12.63 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Young, beardless, diademed head right; no countermarks.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field and unclear (Dobbins CTA Letter 1/'X' (?)) under arm. Greek legend. Seleucid date in exergue (unclear).
Note: This coin appears to have been silvered.


Attambelos IV (53 - 64 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
59 - 60 AD (Seleucid date 370 - 371)
SGIC 5925v. [Attambelos III], Mitchiner ACW 729v. [Attambelos III]
24 x 26 mm.
14.86 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Young, bearded, diademed head right; crescent (Dobbins CTA Monogram 15) behind head and unlisted countermark (Dobbins CTA Monogram -) on neck.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram (Dobbins CTA Monogram 6) in upper left field and unclear (Dobbins CTA Letter 12/'M' (?)) under arm. Greek legend. Seleucid date in exergue (off flan).


Attambelos IV (53 - 64 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
59 - 60 AD (Seleucid date 370 - 371)
SGIC 5925v. [Attambelos III], Mitchiner ACW 731v. [Attambelos III]
25 x 27 mm.
14.02 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Young, bearded, diademed head right; palm branch (Dobbins CTA Monogram 16) in right field; no countermark on neck.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram (?) in upper left field and unclear letter under arm. Greek legend. Seleucid date in exergue (off flan).

Attambelos V (72 - 73 AD)

Attambelos VI (103 - 105 AD)

Attambelos VI (103 - 105 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
SGIC -, Mitchiner ACW -
26 x 23 mm.
12.97 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Young, short-bearded (?), diademed head right.
Reverse: Naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram under arm ('A' (?)). Greek legend. Seleucid date in exergue (off flan).

Theonesios III (110 - 112 AD)

Meherdates (circa 142 AD)

Meherdates, son of Phobas (circa 142 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
142 AD (Seleucid date YN[delta] = 45[4])
Alram 506; SGIC 5934 [Meredates (sic)]; Mitchiner ACW 733; CHOIv3(1) PLATE 14, #3
28 mm.
13.34 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bearded, cuirassed bust right, with tiara adorned with hooks, stars and cresents.
Reverse: Bust of city goddess, right; Greek legend; Seleucid date YN[delta] = 45[4] = 142 AD in exergue.

Orabazes (circa 150 AD)

Abinergaos II (?) (after 150 AD)

Abinergaos II (?) (after 150 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
Alram 508; SGIC 5929 (?) [Binaga (?)]; Mitchiner ACW -; CHOIv3(1) PLATE 14, #4
26 mm.
16.06 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Diademed bust with hair bunched at sides and straight, medium beard, right (in Parthian style).
Reverse: Stylized, naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field; Aramaic legend.

Abinergaos II (?) (after 150 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
Alram 508; SGIC 5929 (?) [Binaga (?)]; Mitchiner ACW -; CHOIv3(1) PLATE 14, #4
25 x 23 mm.
13.08 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Diademed bust with hair bunched at sides and straight, medium beard, right (in Parthian style).
Reverse: Stylized, naked Hercules seated left, resting club on knee. Monogram in upper left field; Aramaic legend.

Mag'a (after 150 AD)

Mag'a (after 150 AD)
AE Tetradrachm
Alram 510; SGIC 5932; Mitchiner ACW 735
25 mm.
14.76 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bearded bust right wearing diademed tiara; Aramaic legend.
Reverse: Male head right, not diademed, with pointed beard; hair in six rolls. Aramaic legend.

Unknown Kings (after 150 AD) 

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