Persian Treasury
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Coinage of Mithradates II

1 catalogued issue of Mithradates II — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Mithradates II (c. 121–91 BCE) brought Parthia to its greatest extent, opened diplomatic contact with Han China and with Rome, and introduced the tiara-crowned royal portrait to Arsacid coinage. Mithradates II issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 91 BCE – 121 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Ecbatana, Rhagae.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
1

Key facts

Key facts about Mithradates II in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range91 BCE – 121 CE
Eras representedParthian (Arsacid) Empire
MetalsSilver
DenominationsDrachm
MintsEcbatana, Rhagae
Reignc. 121–91 BCE
ExtentGreatest territorial reach of Parthia
DiplomacyHan China and Rome
IconographyTall jewelled tiara; King of Kings titulature

The Silk Road opens

His reign coincides with the first sustained Chinese embassies westward and the first Roman contact with Parthia on the Euphrates. Parthia sat astride the route between them, and its tax revenue from that transit funded a long expansion.

Coin output rises sharply, with well-engraved drachms from Ecbatana, Rhagae and Susa that are among the most available quality Parthian silver on the market today.

Iconography of kingship

Mithradates II replaced the soft Hellenistic bashlyk with a tall jewelled tiara, an explicitly Iranian statement of kingship. The reverse legend expands to a formal titulature — King of Kings, Great, Epiphanes.

That shift from Greek to Iranian visual language is one of the clearest ideological turns in ancient coinage, and it is legible on the coins themselves without any external source.

Parthian (Arsacid) Empire · 247 BCE – 224 CE

Era overview →

Mithradates II Drachm

Mithradates II

121–91 BCE

Coinage shifts from Greek to Iranian royal imagery.

Frequently asked about Mithradates II

Why is Mithradates II important?
He brought Parthia to its greatest extent, opened the Silk Road diplomatic contacts with Han China and Rome, and remodelled Arsacid royal iconography around Iranian rather than Greek symbols.
Are his drachms collectable?
Yes — Ecbatana and Rhagae drachms of his reign are relatively plentiful, well struck and among the best-value quality Parthian silver available.
What coins did Mithradates II issue?
Mithradates II issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 91 BCE – 121 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Ecbatana, Rhagae.
How many Mithradates II pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 91 BCE – 121 CE, spread across 1 era: Parthian (Arsacid) Empire.
Which metals were used for Mithradates II coinage?
Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Mithradates II?
Drachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Mithradates II coins minted?
Recorded mints include Ecbatana, Rhagae.

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Denominations here

Metals here