1918.] Numismatic Supplement No. XXX1. 377 
Wroth (B.M. Catalogue, op. cit., p. Ixxxvii) says, “ From 
the time of Vardanes I onwards AX is almost the only mono- 
gram that appears on the coins. Except in the case of barba- 
rous specimens. Ctesiphon may be regarded as the most likely 
mint-place of the later Parthian money.” Vardanes I reigned 
from A.C. 41/42-45. 
This attribution seems to me to be doubtful. How can 
we be certain that this is the sole monogram on the coins 
of all kings who reigned contemporaneously from A.C. 77-78 to 
148-9 in different parts of Parthia? The dated tetradrachmes 
and bronze coins bear testimony to the existence of such rulers 
during this period. Could it be assumed, then, that this mono- 
gram latterly lost its significance and was taken as a necessary 
appendage to the design by ignorant die-sinkers ? 
A Drachme of Mithradates IV with the Symbol 9. 
Longpérier (op. cit., p. 139 sq.) and Gutschmid (Geschichte 
Irans, p. 144) identify this ruler with the Meherdotes who is 
described by John Malala as “ King of Persia,” a Parthian by 
tace and brother of Osroes. Wroth (op. cit., p. lix) considers 
the account of Malala as legendary and believes this identifica- 
tion unsatisfactory both on historical and numismatic grounds. 
_ Our knowledge of this king is derived from coins bearing 
his name in Pahlavi and his portrait, which also a 
coins devoid of any Pahlavi legend, but clearly issued by the 
Same ruler. The style and epigraphy of his coins clearly indi- 
cate that a king named Mithradates was ruling approximately 
from A.C. 130 to 147. 
His drachmes can be divided :— 
A. Barbarous Greek legend. 
B. More barbarous Greek legend. 
C. Very barbarous Greek legend with the addition of 
the Pahlavi legend Mitradata malka. 
I here bring to the notice of students of this epoch a 
reas belonging to one of the three known types of this 
a 
a drachmes are known (see Sammlung Petrowicz. Arsaciden 
ien ; 
: 1904, p. 154, no. 4). A similar drachme 1s attributed 
cae I (A.C 51-77)78) and Volagases III (A.C. 147/48- 
). For these coins, see B.M. Catalogue, pl. xxiii, fig. 5; 
2 - *xix, fig. 13; and pl. xxxv, fig. 3 respectively.) Gardner 
a cit., p. 55) mentions a bronze coin of Mithradates TV with 
the symbol in the cabinet of Prokesch-Osten, which is now in 
‘Ae Berlin Museum. 
