Parthian coinage

Tetradrachm of the Parthian king Vologases I, struck at Seleucia. On the obverse is a portrait of the king wearing a trouser-suit, diadem and beard. The reverse depicts an investiture scene, where the king is receiving a scepter by the Greek goddess Tyche. In the Parthian era, Iranians used Hellenistic iconography to portray their divine figures,[1] thus the investiture scene can be associated with the Avestan khvarenah, i.e. kingly glory.[2]

Parthian coinage was produced within the domains of the Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD). The coins struck by the Parthians were mainly made of silver,[3] with the main currencies being the drachm and tetradrachm.[4] The tetradrachm, which generally weighed around 16 g, was only minted in Seleucia, first conquered by the Parthians in 141 BC.[5] Design-wise, Parthian coinage was based on Seleucid and Achaemenid satrapal coinage.[6]

  1. ^ Curtis 2012, pp. 76–77; Boyce 1984, p. 82
  2. ^ Curtis 2012, p. 71; Olbrycht 2016, pp. 99
  3. ^ Curtis 2007, pp. 9, 11–12, 16.
  4. ^ Curtis 2007, pp. 7–25; Sellwood 1983, pp. 279–298
  5. ^ Sellwood 1983, p. 282
  6. ^ Rezakhani 2013, p. 767.