Click here to view the inscriptions on this king's coins.
See the genealogy chart.
See the article, "Identifying Look-alike Parthian Drachms : Differentiating the Drachms of Artabanus II (c. A.D. 10 - 38), Gotarzes II (c. A.D. 40 - 51) and Artabanus III (c. A.D. 80 - 90)."
The attributions and cataloging of Parthian coins used throughout this web site follow David Sellwood's An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia (1980, 2nd edition) for consistency. The few exceptions to this policy are explained here.
Click on coin images to enlarge:
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Tetradrachm, 14.2 g, 28 mm, die axis = 12h Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 43/44 Additional images/ [large obv] [large rev] Obv/ bare-headed bust left with long, somewhat pointed beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends. Lock of hair representing royal wart on forehead; border of dots Rev/ king seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, presenting diadem and holding cornucopiae. Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / ΑΡΣ[ΑΚΟΥ] ΕΥΕΡΓ[ΕΤΟΥ] / [ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ] / ΕΠΙΦΑ[ΝΟΥΣ] ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗ[ΝΟΣ]. Inscription on left read from outside. Between the heads of Tyche and the king Greek numeral ΕΝΤ, year 355 of the Seleucid era (A.D. 43/44). Outer line of inscription at bottom, which is read from outside and carries month, is off flan. Photo/ by permission Thomas K. Mallon, The Coins and History of Asia - Sellwood 65.2 var. (same year date) |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Tetradrachm, 14.71 g Mint/ Seleucia, 45/46 A.D. Additional images/ [large obv] [large rev] Obv/ bare-headed bust left with long, somewhat pointed beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends. Lock of hair representing royal wart on forehead; border of dots Rev/ king seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, presenting diadem and holding cornucopiae. Greek inscription [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ] / ΑΡΣΑ[ΚΟΥ] ΕΥΕΡΓΕ[ΤΟΥ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ ΦΙΛΕ]ΛΛΗΝ[ΟΣ]. Inscription on left read from outside. Between the heads of Tyche and the king Greek numeral ΖΝΤ, year 357 of the Seleucid era (A.D. 45/46). Outer line of inscription at bottom, which is read from outside and carries month, is partially off flan, probably reads [Π]ΑΝΗ[ΜΟΥ] (June, A.D. 46). Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 65.4? (same year date, and probably month) |
 Gotarzes
II (c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Tetradrachm, 14.46 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 48/49 Obv/ as above Rev/ king seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, presenting diadem and holding cornucopiae; Greek inscription [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ] / [Α]ΡΣΑΚΟ[Υ] [ΕΥΕΡ]ΓΕΤΟ[Υ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / [Ε]ΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ] [ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ]. Inscription on left read from outside, with second line almost entirely off flan. Between the heads of Tyche and the king, Greek numeral ΞΤ, year 360 of the Seleucid era (A.D. 48/49). Outer line of inscription at the bottom is read from outside and gives the month as ΓΡ ΕΜΒΟ (ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΣ ΕΜΒΟΛΙΜΟΣ, Gorpiaios Embolimos), where Gamma-Rho is given as Monogram 29, similar to the one on Sellwood's type 63.5 tetradrachm of Artabanus II. This is a rare and important coin as its date may be a key to understanding calendar usage by the Parthians Photo/ by Chris Hopkins - Sellwood 65.23 var. |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Tetradrachm, 14.40 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 49/50 Additional images/ [obv & rev] Obv/ as above Rev/ king seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, presenting diadem and holding cornucopiae; Greek inscription [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ] / [ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ Ε]ΥΕΡΓΕΤΟ[Υ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / [Ε]ΠΙΦΑΝ[ΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ]. Inscription on left read from outside, with second line almost entirely off flan. Between the heads of Tyche and the king, Greek numeral ΑΞΤ, year 361 of the Seleucid era (A.D. 49/50). Outer line of inscription at the bottom usually gives the month but is partially off flan Photo/ by permission Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. - Sellwood 65.25-27 var. |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Drachm, 3.66 g, 20 mm, die axis = 12h Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ bare-headed bust left with medium to long, square cut beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends; royal wart on forehead (not visible because of wear) Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend. Monogram below bow Photo/ by permission Thomas K. Mallon, The Coins and History of Asia - Sellwood 65.33 - Shore 364 |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Drachm Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Additional images/ [large obv & rev] Obv/ bare-headed bust left, long rectangular beard, earring visible; diadem with loop at the top and three ends; royal wart on forehead Rev/ beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand, bow; Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟ[Υ] / ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟ[Υ] ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / [Ε]ΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ€ [ΦΙ]ΛΕΛΛΗ[ΝΟΣ], legend on left read from outside; monogram 26 below bow Photo/ by permission Smithsonian Institution, National Numismatic Collection - Sellwood 65.33 |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AE Drachm Mint/ Mithradatkart, undated Obv/ bare-headed bust left, beard square not rounded; royal wart a straight line on forehead; hair in three waves but not puffed out; in front star above crescent Rev/ beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand, bow; Greek inscription mostly pellets; variant of monogram 28 below bow, another monogram behind throne Photo/ by permission Rian Thum - Sellwood 65.36 |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AE Drachm, 17 mm Mint/ Mithradatkart, undated Obv/ bare-headed bust left, beard square not rounded; royal wart a straight line on forehead; hair in three waves but not puffed out; in front star above crescent Rev/ beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand, bow; Greek inscription mostly pellets; variant of monogram 28 below bow, another monogram behind throne Photo/ by permission Alexander Akin - Sellwood 65.36 |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Tetradrachm, 12.57 Mint/ Seleucia, June, A.D. 44 Obv/ bare-headed bust left with long, somewhat pointed beard; diadem with loop at the top and two pendants. Lock of hair representing royal wart on forehead, Γ behind; border of dots Rev/ king seated right on throne; Tyche standing left before him, presenting diadem and holding cornucopia. Greek inscription: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΓΩΤΑΡΖΟΥ. Inscription on left read from outside. Between the heads of Tyche and the king Greek numeral ΖΝΤ, year 357 of the Seleucid era (A.D. 43/44). In exergue, ΠΑΝΗ. Photo/ Wroth, Catalog of Parthian Coins in the British Museum (1903); plate 26, 13 - Sellwood 66.2 - BMC Parthia, p.162, 10 (Gotarzes) (this coin) - Gardner, p. 49; pl. v, 18 (this coin) |
 Gotarzes II
(c. A.D. 40 - 51)AR Drachm, 3.58 Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ bare-headed bust left with long rectangular beard; diadem with loop at the top and three ends; (royal wart on forehead not visible because of wear) Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΛΙΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΛΙΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΝΟΙ ΥΟΣΚΕΚΑΛ ΟΥΜΕΝΟΣΑ ΡΤΑΒΑΝΟΥ ΓΩΤΕΡΖΗΣ. Monogram below bow Note/ reverse double-struck Photo/ by permission, Dr. Busso Peus Auktion 376, Lot 726 - Sellwood 66.4 |
This page last updated 13 Mar 2021
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