Son of Phraates IV. Reign 2 BC - 4 AD. Phraataces and his mom, Musa, poison old Phraates IV and then decide to get married. To each other. Even the Parthians are upset by this. I have a feeling mom was preoccupied with the myth of the warrior-queen Semiramis, who supposedly murdered her husband, conquered all of Asia except India, founded Babylon, built the Hanging Gardens and was in turn murdered by her son, and lover, Ninyas. Well, except for the being murdered part...

AR Tetradrachm
November, 2 BC
Sellwood ICP 57.11v.
27 mm.
14.67 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium, square-cut beard wearing diadem; no wart on forehead. Nike on each side.
Reverse: King enthroned right holding bow. DIKAIOU written letters base outwards. SE date AIT = 311, month = APELLAIOU
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

Phraataces (2 BC-4 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 318
18 x 19 mm.
2.77 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium pointed beard wearing diadem; no royal wart. Star with crescent underneath before bust; Nike crowning bust with wreath, behind.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne looking upwards, holding bow. Completely blundered Greek legend. Star behind throne. Monogram 30 below bow.

Phraataces (2 BC-4 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 319 (this coin), Sellwood ICP 56.13
20 x 16 mm.
3.47 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium pointed beard wearing diadem; no royal wart. Star with crescent underneath before bust; Nike crowning bust with wreath, behind.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Completely blundered Greek legend. Altar (?) behind throne. Monogram 30 below bow.

Billon Drachm
Sellwood ICP 56.6
18 x 17 mm.
3.67 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse: ΜΤΘ (Monogram 30) below bow.

Reign 6 AD. Placed on the throne by the Parthian nobility, he was soon murdered because of his extreme cruelty. Go figure.

Oldest son of Phraates IV. Reign 8 - 12 AD. Engineered by Augustus, he is returned from living in exile in Rome to the Parthian throne. He is so 'Romanized' that he doesn't like hunting, feasting or horses and is carried about in a litter. This doesn't sit well with most Parthians and he flees to Armenia. Murdered in 19 AD.

Vonones I (8 - 12 AD)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 60 type

20 mm.
3.73 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Unpublished with this control; unique.

Vonones I (8 - 12 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 329, Sellwood ICP 60.5
20 x 18 mm.
2.63 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square-cut beard wearing diadem; Greek legend around head.
Reverse: Nike standing right holding palm. Greek legend; Monogram 73.

Vonones I (8 - 12 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 562, Sellwood ICP 60.8
10 x 11 mm.
1.10 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square-cut beard wearing diadem; Greek legend around head.
Reverse: Monogram 73.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Reign 10 - 38 AD. Originally king of Media Atropatene. Spent most of his reign fighting civil wars. At one point after being forced off the throne (Tiberius picked a grandson of Phraates IV to install), Artabanos had to live with the tribesmen east of the Caspian Sea, clad in rags and eating only what he could catch. This is a few years after Jesus is put to death. Artabanos raised an army among the Dahae and, wearing his rags for effect, recaptured the empire. To celebrate, Herod Antipas of Judaea throws a big party and invites the Romans, too. Artabanos is so happy he gives the Romans a seven cubit high Jewish giant as a present. He is shortly deposed again, his flair for the dramatic probably wearing very thin.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 569, Sellwood ICP 61.12v.
13 mm.
1.69 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with long, pointed beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Amphora; Monogram 73 to left.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore -, Sellwood ICP 61.14
13 mm.
1.59 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with long, pointed beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Crescent and star.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 341v., Sellwood ICP 63.6
20 mm.
3.37 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 341
20 mm.
3.48 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 341
22 x 21 mm.
3.31 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 63.6
20 x 19 mm.
3.80 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse: A w/pellet (Monogram 34) below bow.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 344 (this coin), Sellwood ICP 63 type
20 mm.
3.87 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium square cut beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Extra line on inside of bottom part of legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 349, Sellwood ICP 63.14
21 x 17 mm.
3.26 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with square cut beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. Star and crescent in left field.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend. Monogram 69 below bow.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

AE Drachm
Koch Group 4; Sellwood ICP 63.16v.
15 x 18 mm.
3.10 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust left.
Reverse: Archer right. Margiana mint.
Note: These are imitations of Parthian drachms. See Indo-Parthian section on Sanabares.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 571, Sellwood ICP 63.18
11 mm.
1.09 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with straight beard and hair wearing diadem.
Reverse: Bearded bust left wearing tiara.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 571, Sellwood ICP 63.18
10 mm.
1.21 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with straight beard and hair wearing diadem.
Reverse: Bearded bust left wearing tiara.

AE Unit
Sellwood ICP 63.22
14 x 13 mm.
gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 578, Sellwood ICP 63.25
13 mm.
1.62 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with straight beard and hair wearing diadem.
Reverse: Amphora.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Artabanos II (10-38 AD)
AE Chalkous
Sellwood ICP 63.26
12 mm.
1.75 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with straight beard and hair wearing diadem.
Reverse: Hand holding caduceus.
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

AE Unit
Sellwood ICP 63.38
12 x 10 mm.
1.54 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with square-cut beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Wreath.

Son of Artabanos II. Reign 40 - 45 AD. Civil war. Murdered in 45 AD during a hunt.

Vardanes I (40-45 AD)
AR Tetradrachm (dated 44/45 AD)
Shore 352, Sellwood ICP 64.28/30
27 x 26 mm.
13.96 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short, pointed beard, wearing diadem with loop at top and three ends; royal 'wart' on forehead.
Reverse: King seated right on throne, Tyche standing left holding cornucopiae and handing him palm. Greek legend. Seleucid date equivalent to 44/45 AD.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Vardanes I (40-45 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 353, Sellwood ICP 64 type
20 mm.
3.69 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium pointed beard wearing diadem with loop at the top, earring visible. Hair in three waves. Three lines on forehead (two vertical and one horizontal representing royal wart). Drapery visible on king's shoulder.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

Son of Artabanos II. Reign 40 - 51 AD. Civil war.

Gotarzes II (40-51 AD)
AR Tetradrachm (dated 47/48 AD)
Shore 360, Sellwood ICP 65.18/19
28 mm.
14.20 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with long, somewhat pointed beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends. Lock of hair representing royal wart on forehead.
Reverse: King seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, giving him diadem and holding cornucopiae. Greek legend. Seleucid date.

Gotarzes II (40-51 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 364
20 mm.
3.66 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium to long, square cut beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends. Royal wart on forehead (not visable because of wear).
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 65.36v.
18 mm.
3.20 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium beard wearing diadem. Star and crescent.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend. ΜΤΘ control variant. Monogram 82 variant behind throne.
Note: These are imitations of Sellwood 71 drachms and not coins of Gotarzes II as listed in Sellwood.

Gotarzes II (40-51 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 592, Sellwood ICP 65.47
12 x 11 mm.
0.97 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium to long, square cut beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: King seated right on throne holding bow.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Gotarzes II (40-51 AD)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 66.4

20 x 19 mm.
3.81 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse:
Reverse: Name on reverse: ΓWΤEΡZHC
Note: As part of legend tentatively read as: Gotarzes, son of Artabanos (II?)

Sellwood 66.4 comparison
On ten examples.

Sellwood 66.4 legends
As described in Shore, Sellwood, de Morgan and Wroth.

Reign 51 AD. (for only a few months).

Vonones II (51 AD)
AR Drachm
Shore 368, Sellwood ICP 67.1
20 mm.
3.51 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Helmeted bust facing with short beard wearing diadem with loops at both sides; helmet with ornamentation (horns (?)) and ear flaps. Royal wart on forehead (?); stars on either side of bust.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Somewhat blundered Greek legend. Monogram 73 below bow.

Vonones II (51 AD)
AE Chalkous
Shore 594, Sellwood ICP 67.4
10 x 12 mm.
1.19 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Helmeted bust facing with short beard wearing diadem with loops at both sides; helmet with ornamentation (horns (?)) and ear flaps. Royal wart on forehead; stars on either side of bust.
Reverse: Naked male standing right in gateway, holding eagle. [scan missing]
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.