PARTHIAN EMPIRE – PHRAATES IV (CA. 38/37–2 BC) – AR DRACHM – EKBATANA – 3.83 G – NEAR VERY FINE
Phraates IV – A Parthian King During the Age of Augustus and Roman–Parthian Diplomacy
An ancient silver drachm attributed to Phraates IV (ca. 38/37–2 BC), one of the most historically significant rulers of the Parthian Empire during the late 1st century BC.
His reign coincided with the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire and the rise of Augustus as Rome’s first emperor.
Phraates IV is particularly remembered for his diplomatic relations with Augustus and the return of the Roman military standards captured during earlier conflicts between Rome and Parthia.
The coin represents the traditional silver currency of the Arsacid dynasty, featuring a royal portrait on the obverse and the seated archer design on the reverse.
Attributed to the historic mint of Ekbatana, this drachm offers a tangible connection to the political, diplomatic, and monetary traditions of ancient Persia during a period of major transformation in the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds.
Historical Background
During the late 1st century BC, the Parthian Empire remained one of the principal powers of the ancient Near East, controlling extensive territories across Mesopotamia, the Iranian plateau, and surrounding regions.
The Arsacid dynasty maintained a powerful kingdom that represented one of Rome’s most important political and military rivals along its eastern frontier.
Phraates IV came to power around 38/37 BC, succeeding his father Orodes II during a period of dynastic conflict and political instability.
His reign was marked by internal rivalries, military confrontations, and complex diplomatic relations with Rome.
One of the most important events of his reign occurred in 20 BC, when Phraates IV agreed to return the Roman military standards captured during the defeat of Marcus Licinius Crassus at Carrhae in 53 BC and subsequent Roman campaigns.
The return of these standards represented a major diplomatic achievement for Augustus, who celebrated the event as a restoration of Roman prestige without the need for a new large-scale military campaign.
The agreement also reflected the political importance of maintaining a balance of power between the Roman and Parthian empires.
Armenia remained a particularly sensitive region, with both powers seeking to influence its political leadership and strategic alliances.
Later in his reign, Phraates IV sent several of his sons to Rome, an action that helped shape the complex dynastic relationships between the Arsacid royal family and the Roman imperial court.
Throughout this period, silver drachms remained essential to the economic life of the Parthian kingdom, circulating through regional markets, commercial centres, and established trade routes.
These coins also served as symbols of royal authority, preserving the traditional imagery and dynastic legitimacy of the Arsacid kings.
Coin Description
Obverse: Draped bust of Phraates IV facing left, wearing the traditional Parthian royal headdress with ornamental details and flowing ribbons extending behind the head.
The portrait retains the general outline of the royal headdress, facial profile, beard, and drapery, although substantial circulation wear has softened many of the original details.
The eye, nose, beard, and portions of the royal hairstyle remain partially distinguishable.
The silver-grey surfaces display areas of darker toning, fine scratches, minor marks, and localized surface irregularities.
A small dark surface mark is visible in the upper-left area of the obverse.
The ancient flan is relatively broad and rounded, with minor irregularities typical of hammered coinage from this period.
Reverse: Arsaces seated right, holding a bow, surrounded by Greek inscriptions containing the traditional royal titles of the Parthian kings.
The seated archer was one of the most enduring symbols of the Arsacid dynasty, representing royal legitimacy, military tradition, and continuity with the dynasty’s founder.
The reverse is considerably better preserved than the obverse, retaining a clearly recognizable seated figure, bow, throne, and substantial portions of the surrounding Greek inscriptions.
The figure’s facial profile, extended arm, and elements of the royal clothing remain visible.
The Greek lettering is prominently preserved in several areas, although some characters are affected by wear and irregular striking.
The contrast between the worn obverse portrait and the more clearly defined reverse is a distinctive characteristic of this particular specimen.
The Ekbatana Mint
Attributed to Ekbatana, one of the most historically important cities of ancient Iran, situated near modern-day Hamadan.
Ekbatana had served as a major political centre since the Median period and retained its importance under the Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian dynasties.
During the Arsacid period, the city was closely associated with royal administration and the production of silver coinage.
Its strategic position along routes connecting Mesopotamia, the Iranian plateau, and eastern territories contributed to its economic and political significance.
Silver drachms struck at Ekbatana circulated widely throughout the Parthian kingdom and remain important historical evidence of its monetary system.
The mint produced numerous issues bearing the distinctive portraits of Arsacid rulers and the traditional seated archer reverse.
Collector’s Appeal
This ancient silver drachm offers collectors an interesting example of Parthian royal coinage from the late 1st century BC.
The coin preserves the characteristic left-facing royal portrait and the traditional seated archer reverse, two of the most recognizable features of Arsacid silver currency.
Although the obverse portrait exhibits considerable circulation wear, the royal headdress, facial profile, and flowing ribbons remain identifiable.
The reverse is particularly appealing for its relatively well-preserved seated archer and substantial portions of the surrounding Greek inscriptions.
Its silver-grey surfaces, darker toning, circulation marks, and minor irregularities reflect the characteristics of ancient hammered coinage.
The coin is especially interesting because of its association with Phraates IV, the Parthian ruler who negotiated the return of the Roman military standards to Augustus in 20 BC.
This historical connection makes the issue relevant to collectors interested in the political and diplomatic relationships between ancient Rome and the Parthian Empire.
An interesting addition to a collection of Parthian, Persian, Arsacid, Roman Republican, or early Roman Imperial history.
Numismatic Details
Empire: Parthian Empire
Ruler: Phraates IV
Date: Ca. 38/37–2 BC
Dynasty: Arsacid
Mint: Ekbatana (attributed)
Denomination: AR Drachm
Metal: Silver
Weight: 3.83 g
Obverse: Draped bust of Phraates IV left, wearing a traditional royal headdress with ornamental details and flowing ribbons
Reverse: Seated Arsaces holding a bow, surrounded by Greek royal inscriptions
Condition: Near Very Fine (near VF), with significant obverse wear and a better-preserved reverse
Surface: Silver-grey surfaces with darker toning, fine scratches, minor marks, localized roughness, and circulation wear
Period: Late 1st century BC
An ancient silver drachm representing the royal authority and enduring monetary traditions of the Parthian Empire during the reign of Phraates IV, a ruler closely associated with the diplomatic settlement between Parthia and Augustus and the historic return of the Roman military standards in 20 BC.