Vologases IV – AR Drachm | Parthian Empire | Seleucia Mint (c. 147–191 AD)

Obverse:
The king’s diademed bust facing left, wearing a tall tiara with elaborate ribbon loops and a row of dots representing pearls. The tiara is a mark of divine kingship and continuity with past Arsacid rulers.

Reverse:
The legendary Arsakes I, founder of the Parthian Empire, seated on a throne holding a bow — the hallmark of Parthian martial identity. A monogram beneath the bow indicates the mint authority (Sellwood 84.131). Surrounding inscriptions are in Parthian script, announcing the king’s name and titles.

Struck during the reign of Vologases IV, this silver drachm originates from the Seleucia mint—a major center of Parthian coinage on the Tigris River. Vologases IV ruled the Parthian Empire from c. 147 to 191 AD, consolidating power during a time of frequent conflict with Rome and internal dynastic shifts.

The obverse features the bearded bust of the king facing left, wearing the traditional Parthian tiara adorned with royal symbols. The reverse depicts the seated figure of Arsaces, the Parthian founder, holding a bow—an enduring image used to legitimize and reinforce dynastic continuity.

This coin represents a key period in late Parthian history, when local rulers balanced Hellenistic influences with Persian traditions. It offers collectors a tangible connection to one of the Near East's most resilient dynasties.