The inscription on the bronze Herakles discovered in 1984 shows that Pacorus II was the father of Meherdates of Characene.1 See the genealogy chart.
The young portrait of Pacorus II is one of the few times a Parthian monarch appears on coins without a beard.
Click here to view the inscriptions on this king's coins.
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Notes:
1. See W. I. al-Salihi, Sumer 43 (1984), p. 219, and J. Black, ibid., p. 230.
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:
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm, 14.11 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 77/78, month unknown Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and two ends visible; behind head broken-bar Α Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Β]ΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / ΑΡΣΑ[ΚΟΥ] ΠΑΚΟΡ[ΟΥ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟ[Υ] / ΕΠΙΦΑ[ΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ] with date ΘΠΤ = 389 Seleucid Era above the diadem; Month in exergue off flan Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.2 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm, 14.10 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 77/78, month unknown Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and two ends visible; behind head broken-bar Α Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend [ΒΑ]ΣΙΛ[ΕΩΣ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / ΑΡΣΑ[ΚΟΥ] ΠΑΚΟ[ΡΟΥ] / [ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ] / ΕΠΙΦΑΝ[ΟΥΣ ΦΙΛ]ΕΛΛ[ΗΝΟΣ] with date ΘΠΤ = 389 Seleucid Era above the diadem; Month in exergue off flan Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.2 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm, 14.11 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 77/78, month unknown Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and two ends visible; behind head Β Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend [Β]ΑΣΙΛ[ΕΩΣ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕ[ΩΝ] / [ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ] ΠΑΚΟ[ΡΟΥ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟ[Υ] / ΕΠΙΦΑΝ[ΟΥΣ ΦΙ]ΛΕΛΛΗΝ[ΟΣ] with date ΘΠΤ = 389 Seleucid Era above the diadem; Month in exergue off flan Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Auktion 363, Lot 5181 - Sellwood 73.3-5 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm, 14.4 g Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 78/79, month unknown Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and two ends visible; behind head Δ Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛ[ΕΩΣ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / [ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ] ΠΑΚΟ[ΡΟΥ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥ[Σ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ] with date ϘΤ = 390 Seleucid above the diadem. Month in exergue off flan Photo/ by permission John Darling, Barry and Darling - Sellwood 73.9 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm Mint/ Seleucia, A.D. 79/80, month unknown Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and two ends visible; behind head Ε Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ] / [ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΠΑΚΟΡΟΥ] / [Δ]ΙΚΑ[ΙΟΥ] / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ] [ΦΙΛ]ΕΛΛΗΝΟ[Σ] with date ΑϘΤ = 391 Seleucid Era above the diadem. Month in exergue off flan Photo/ by permission Coins of Antiquity - Sellwood 73.10 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.50 g, 19 mm, die axis = 12h Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Blundered Greek legend Photo/ by permission Thomas K. Mallon, The Coins and History of Asia - Sellwood 73.11 - Shore 395 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.55 g Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Blundered Greek legend Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.11 - Shore 395 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.65 g Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Blundered Greek legend Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.11 - Shore 395 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.52 g Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Blundered Greek legend Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.11 - Shore 395 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Additional images/ [large obv & rev] Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Blundered Greek legend Photo/ by permission Smithsonian Institution, National Numismatic Collection - Sellwood 73.11 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 2.65 g Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26; lambda ( Λ ) omitted from top lines of blundered Greek inscription Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 73.12 - Shore 396 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AE Chalkous, 1.14 g, 11 mm Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ beardless bare-headed bust left wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earring visible. No royal wart Rev/ amphora (?) Location/ Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, nc 1030 Photo/ by Chris Hopkins - Sellwood 73.16 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AE "Drachm", 3.54 g, 15 mm Mint/ Seleucia, undated Obv/ bare-headed bust left with slight beard Rev/ bust of Tyche right; in front, Α Photo/ by permission Wayne G. Sayles, The Celator - Sellwood 75.8-9http://wgs.cc/celator/ |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm, 14.20 g Mint/ Seleucia, June, A.D. 93 Obv/ bare-headed bust left with short beard, wearing diadem; behind head [Α]? Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche with scepter; Greek legend [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Β]ΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΠΑΚΟΡΟ[Υ] / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥ[Σ ΦΙΛ]ΕΛΛΗΝ[ΟΣ] with date ΔΥ = 404 Seleucid Era above the diadem; month ΠΑΝΗ in exergue Photo/ by permission Pars Coins - Sellwood 76.1 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Tetradrachm Mint/ Seleucia, A.D 92, month unknown Obv/ bust left with short beard, ear visible; wearing tiara with hooks on crest, four turns of neck torque, behind monogram Β; border of dots Rev/ king enthroned left receiving diadem from Tyche, horizontal bar on throne back; year ΔΥ (404 Seleucid Era = A.D. 92) between heads, month in exergue off flan; Greek inscription [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑ]ΣΙΛΕ[ΩΝ / Α]ΡΣΑΚΟΥ / ΠΑΚΟΡΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ ΦΙΛΕ]ΛΛΗΝ[ΟΣ] Photo/ by permission Edgar L. Owen Ltd. - Sellwood 77.2-4 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Additional images/ [large obv & rev] Obv/ bust left with quadrant bottom to beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and three ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Greek legend Photo/ by permission Smithsonian Institution, National Numismatic Collection - Sellwood 77.8 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.44 g Mint/ unknown (probably in Persis), undated Obv/ bust left with medium beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and two ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow; legend bears little relation to Greek prototype Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Auktion 363, Lot 5185 - Sellwood, Numismatic Chronicle 1989, Plate 42, #6 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Drachm, 3.71 g Mint/ unknown (probably in Persis), undated Obv/ bust left with medium beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and two ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow; legend bears little relation to Greek prototype Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Auktion 363, Lot 5184 - Sellwood, Numismatic Chronicle 1989, Plate 42, #6 (variant) |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Hemidrachm Mint/ unknown (probably in Persis), undated Obv/ bust left with long beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and two ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow; legend bears little relation to Greek prototype - Sellwood, Numismatic Chronicle 1989, Plate 42, #7 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Diobol, 1.16 g Mint/ Ecbatana, undated Obv/ bust left with medium beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and two ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram 26. Greek legend Photo/ by permission Henri Delger, Old Roman Coins for Special Collectors - Sellwood, Numismatic Chronicle 1989, Plate 42, #8 - Shore 402 |
 Pacorus II
(c. A.D. 78 - 105)AR Hemidrachm, 1.64 g Mint/ unknown (probably in Persis), undated Obv/ bust left with medium beard, ear visible, wearing tiara with ear flap and hooks on crest; diadem with loops and two ends Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, under bow monogram; Greek legend Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Auktion 363, Lot 5186 - Sellwood not listed |
This page last updated 13 Mar 2021
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