RARE ANCIENT PARTHIAN SILVER DRACHM. VARDANES I /38-46 AD Ekbatana Mint/

2.97 Grams / 2 cm

Obverse: Bust left with semicircular bottom to beard wearing diadem and three-band spiral torque with no visible end; medium length hair wavy with earring visible; diadem pendants shown as five lines; circular border of dots.

Reverse: Beardless archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated right on throne, holding bow in right hand; monogram below bow; seven-line Greek inscription; no border

Drachms of Vardanes I, especially those of eastern mintage, continue the oriental style of his father Artabanus. The silver content remains good at western mints and even in some issues from the eastern part of the empire.