© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
Æ Tetradrachm - Attambelos IV
| Bronze | 15.3 g | - |
| Issuer | Kingdom of Characene (Mesopotamia) |
|---|---|
| King | Attambelos IV (54-64) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 53-56 |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 15.3 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-10 |
| Numista | N#311954 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
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# 1) before his head, letter below right arm (Dobbins# 3), 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 side of the coin depicts a bearded king, likely Attambelos IV, wearing a crown and a cloak, while the reverse side shows a mythological creature, possibly a Griffin, along with a Greek inscription. This fusion of cultural elements reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Characene, which was located in the region of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) and was a vassal state of the Persian Empire during the 1st century AD.
