Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Attambelos I of Characene

1 catalogued issue of Attambelos I of Characene — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Attambelos I ruled Characene around 47–24 BCE, the Gulf-head kingdom whose port at Spasinou Charax handled the sea trade between Mesopotamia, Arabia and India. Attambelos I of Characene issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Billon at Spasinou Charax (mouth of the Tigris).

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
2

Key facts

Key facts about Attambelos I of Characene in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range1 CE
Eras representedParthian (Arsacid) Empire
MetalsBillon
DenominationsDrachm, Tetradrachm
MintsSpasinou Charax (mouth of the Tigris)
Reignc. 47–24 BCE
KingdomCharacene, head of the Persian Gulf
CapitalSpasinou Charax
Reverse typeSeated Heracles

A trading kingdom

Characene sat where the Tigris met the Gulf, and its wealth came from transit rather than territory. Palmyrene merchant inscriptions record caravans arriving from Charax, linking the Gulf sea route to the Syrian desert road.

Its tetradrachms, with a royal bust and a seated Heracles reverse, are struck on a declining silver standard that tracks the kingdom's fortunes.

Under Parthian oversight

Characene remained autonomous under Parthian suzerainty for roughly three centuries before Ardashir I absorbed it in the 220s CE.

The coinage is the main source for its king list, and dated issues using the Seleucid era make it one of the better-anchored chronologies in the region.

Parthian (Arsacid) Empire · 247 BCE – 224 CE

Era overview →

Characene Tetradrachm — Spasinou Charax

Attambelos I of Characene

1st century BCE – 1st century CE

The Kingdom of Characene at the head of the Persian Gulf was a Parthian vassal controlling Indian Ocean trade. Its coins debased steadily as silver gave way to lead-bronze. Image: related Elymaean billon tetradrachm.

Frequently asked about Attambelos I of Characene

Where was Characene?
At the head of the Persian Gulf where the Tigris met the sea, with its capital at Spasinou Charax — a trading kingdom under Parthian suzerainty.
How is Characene dated?
By the Seleucid era dates on its coinage, which makes the kingdom's chronology unusually secure for the region.
What coins did Attambelos I of Characene issue?
Attambelos I of Characene issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Billon at Spasinou Charax (mouth of the Tigris).
How many Attambelos I of Characene pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 1 CE, spread across 1 era: Parthian (Arsacid) Empire.
Which metals were used for Attambelos I of Characene coinage?
Billon. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Attambelos I of Characene?
Drachm, Tetradrachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Attambelos I of Characene coins minted?
Recorded mints include Spasinou Charax (mouth of the Tigris).

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Denominations here

Metals here