© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
Æ Tetradrachm - Attambelos IV
| Bronze | 16.23 g | - |
| Issuer | Kingdom of Characene (Mesopotamia) |
|---|---|
| King | Attambelos IV (54-64) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 58-59 |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 16.23 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#311953 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Herakles seated left on anvil-shaped seat, nude, holding with right hand a club set on his right knee flanked vertically by lettering, a monogram (Dobbins# 6) before his head, letter below right arm (Dobbins# 12), date in exergue generally illegible.
Script: Greek
Lettering:
ΒΑΣΙΛεωΣ ΑΤΤΑΜΒΗΛΟΥ
CωΤΗΡΟΣ εΥεΡΓεΤΟΥ
Translation: King Attambelos, the savior and benefactor.
Comment
Coins are listed in the BMC Greek under Attambelos III; however, later finds attributed them to Attambelos IV.Despite knowing the date should appear in exergue, most of the coins have the date off flan or illegible. However, the combinations of variety, monograms and letters can help refine the dating thanks to Dobbins study and classification.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features a unique blend of Greek and Persian influences in its design. The obverse (front) side of the coin depicts a bearded king, likely Attambelos IV, wearing a royal diadem and a Persian-style crown, while the reverse (back) side shows a Greek-style mythological scene of a nymph and a satyr. This fusion of cultural styles reflects the multicultural nature of the Kingdom of Characene, which was located in the region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and was influenced by both Greek and Persian cultures.
