34 On the Greek Coins of the [Jan. 
Parthian or Arsakian Coins. 
The Parthian monarchy was erected by Arsaces, who filled the office 
of satrap in Bactria, in the year 256 B. c.. He had opposed the designs 
of Theodotus, who had first revolted from the third Syro-Macedonian 
monarch, and had raised the Bactrian provinces into an independent 
kingdom. Being unsuccessful, he fled to Parthia, where he expelled the 
governor, and declared himself independent. Vaillant, the numismatolo- 
gist, has written a copious history of this powerful dynasty ; and has en- 
deavoured to classify the coins of the 29 Arsacide kings : but it is gene- 
rally acknowledged that there is too much of the fanciful in his appro~ 
priations, and most antiquarians have given up the attempt. The greater 
number of the Parthian coins have thesamename, apzakor, with different 
epithets,—king of kings, the great, beneficent, lover of the Greeks, &c. : 
the heads however, are very distinct and numerous. 
The most rational mode of arrangement is, to place those which are 
best executed first, (for Greek workmen were doubtless then employed.) 
And, as the execution falls off, and the Greek characters become obscure, 
we may suppose the dynasty to progress towards its absorption into the 
Persian empire, in the reign of Alexander Severus. a. p. 226. There is 
aremarkable distinction in the head-dress of these princes ; beginning 
with the simple band or diadem of the Greek monarchy, it gradually 
changes into a deep turban, and at length becomes a high-mitred cap, 
like that of the Persian monarchs. 
We have two specimens of the larger silver Arsakian coins, and seve- 
ral of the smaller ones: the latter, upon which the characters begin to 
deteriorate rapidly, I have placed in Plate II. with the Persian coins. 
Fig. 13.—One of two silver tetradrachms in the Society’s collection. 
Obverse. Head of Arsaces I. (dubious) facing the right ; with broad 
diadem and straight hair. 
Reverse. Victory offering a crown to the king, seated, with the legend 
BACIAEQC BACIAEQN EYEPFETOYT AIKAIOY EMI¢ANOY 
$IAEAAHNOY; the third word apCakor is probably ex- 
cluded by the die being two large for the coin. 
Before passing to the rest of the Arsakian coins, I would here 
introduce 
Fig. 15.—One of three copper coins belonging to the As. Soc. 
They bear on the obverse, a well-executed head, bearded, 
and wearing a high-mitred cap. The characters and 
device on the reverse of two of them are nearly oblite- 
rated, but sufficient remains to shew the portrait of a 
female, (probably the wife of the king.) On the third, 
