AUTOPHRADATES II ( VADFRADAD ) PERSIS AR OBOL
Alram 549, Extremely Fine, 9.9mm, .60 grams, Struck Early - Mid 2nd Century B.C.E.
Obverse: Diademed head of Autophradates II to right, wearying kyrbasia adorned with eagle
Reverse: Fire temple, half figure of Ahura-Mazda above to left, King Autophradates standing to left, standard surmounted by eagle to right
Perfectly Centered - A real STUNNER and a SUPERB coin (greatly enlarged). The nicest we have ever seen!
The reign of King Autophradates II (Vadfradad) is known only from his coins, which are notable for showing the breakdown of Seleukid authority in the eastern satrapies. After the death of Alexander the Great, his generals divided his empire among themselves. Seleukos I came to control of the entire eastern portion of the empire, but his successors expansionism to the west mitigated the amount of control they could exercise in the East. By the later third century B.C.E. the local governors of Persis had begun issuing their own coins, but were mindful of their Seleukid overlords and incorporated the title of local ruler, in their designs (much as the earliest Hasmonean coinage in Judaea). By the second century the Seleukid's control had weakened to the point that Autophradates II began issuing coins which either lacked the title of local rule or carried the title of king. The Seleukids were powerless to reassert their authority, and this design form continued throughout the duration of Persis coinage.
