Drachm of Vadfradad II of Persis, ca. 200–150 BC
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 200–150 BC
Issuing entity
Kingdom of PersisThis silver drachm was struck under King Vadfradad II of Persis, referred to as Autophradates in Greek, in the early to mid-second century B.C. Persis encompassed southwestern Iran, an area that had served as the heartland of the Achaemenid Empire before coming under local client kings.
The obverse exhibits a right-facing bust of the ruler, who wears an earring and a pointed cap fastened with a diadem, alongside a neatly trimmed beard depicted using dots. On the reverse, a figure facing right stands before an edifice understood to be either a temple or an altar. The structure features crenellations above five horizontal lines bisected by a vertical line, perhaps indicating doors, and is topped by a triangle flanked by two curved prongs that perhaps signify flames. To the right stands a tall standard supporting a perched bird.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
During the Seleucid and Parthian eras, Persis was governed by subordinate client kings who fused artistic traditions from Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian cultures, as shown by the Hellenistic diadem Vadfradad wears. This coin was discovered during excavations at Qasr-i Abu Nasr near Shiraz. Because most archaeological finds from that location originate from the Sasanian era between A.D. 224 and 651, this piece represents one of the few artifacts proving the site was also settled during the Parthian period.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Museum specimens
- The Met 36.30.299: 1/8 in. × 5/8 in. diameter (0.3 × 1.6 cm)
Design
- Obverse
- Right-facing bust of the king wearing an earring, a trim beard articulated with dots, and a peaked cap secured with a diadem.
- Reverse
- Right-facing figure standing before a crenellated structure—variously interpreted as an altar or a temple—marked with five horizontal lines bisected by a vertical line that perhaps indicates doors, topped by two curved prongs flanking a triangle that perhaps represents flames, with a bird-topped standard to the right.
Identification
- Issuing state
- Kingdom of Persis
- Museum accession numbers
- 36.30.299
- Issuer (museum attribution)
- Vadfradad II
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research Required: no specialist corpus type number is recorded here; confirm the type, die variety and mint against a published corpus of Kingdom of Persis coinage before citing one.