THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.

39

The class of coins with short heard remains to be treated of. Writers are agreed that
the full-face coins Nos. 4—6 are of Phraates III., and I accept their opinion, although the
reason they give, that Phraates was joint ruler with his father, and that the heir to the
throne is always thus represented, breaks down entirely. For in the first place, we do not
know that Phraates was joint ruler with his father; but secondly, Pacorus, who certainly
was joint ruler, is always represented side-face. Notwithstanding this, the attribution seems
a sound one. And the head which is turned to the left on coins Nos. 7—10 is the same as
that represented full-face on Nos. 4—6. These sets of coins then are both of the same king;
the slight variety in the legend OeoTrarwp and (JuXoTraTup notwithstanding. And that this
king is Phraates there can be scarcely a doubt. The remaining coins belong partly to
Mithradates III. and partly to the early years of the reign of Orodes, before he had adopted
a fixed legend. Two main differences divide the coins of these two princes. The first is of
legend ; Mithradates styling himself 6kos evTrarcop, and Orodes faXoirartop. These epithets
perhaps are not very appropriate, seeing that the two combined to assassinate their father
Phraates; but the latter suggests, what has already been surmised, that it was as the avenger
of his father that Orodes professed to take the field against Mithradates, while the title os
ev7rara>p may very well have been taken by Mithradates from his namesake and contemporary
the great ruler os Pontus (see Table III.). The second difference is of type. Mithradates
always wears a jointed torquis with clasp in front, Orodes a spiral passing thrice round his
neck. The portraits are very similar, as we might expect those of two brothers of not very
different ages to be, but the lesser differences I have mentioned are sufficient to justify us in
assuming two kings rather than one to have issued the series.
Absaces XII. Obodes I.

(a). Early coinage.

Plate III. 15.

Obv. Head of Orodes 1. cliad., neck-ornament spiral.
Rev. BASIAEQS BASIAEQN METAAOY APSAKOY KAI KTKTOY.

seated r. on throne holding bow.

Tetradrachm. Berlin.

Arsaces

16. Obv. As last.
Rev. BASIAEQ:* BASIAEON APSAKOY <blAOnATOP(X AIKAIOY EnicPANOYC
KAI 0IAEAAH NOA Arsaces seated r.; tor. ra-
Drachm. B.M. Wt. 57-7.
17. Obv. As last.
Rev. Same inscr. without KAI. Pegasus r. prancing; beneath,^.
B.M. BE -7.

18. Obv. Head of Orodes 1., behind, Nike crowning him.
Rev. Same inscr. Arsaces seated r. ; to r.
Drachm. B.M. "Wt. 60.