According to Herodotus, Ecbatana was chosen as the Medes' capital in the late 8th century BC by Deioces. Under the Achaemenid Persian kings, Ecbatana became a summer residence. Later, it became the capital of the Parthian kings, at which time it became their main mint, producing drachm, tetradrachm, and assorted bronze denominations.
In 2006, excavations in a limited area of Hagmatana hill failed to discover anything older than the Parthian period, but this does not rule out older archaeological layers existing elsewhere within the 35-hectare site.
Modern location: Hamedan, Iran
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Reverse: archer without beard, with cloak and bashlyk seated on throne, holding bow; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.16 g
Reverse: archer without beard, with cloak and bashlyk seated on throne, holding bow; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, Δ above foot
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.02 g
Reverse: archer seated on throne right, wearing balshyk and cloak, holding bow, anchor with trident-like end behind; BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN APΣAKOY EYEPΓETOY ΔIKAIOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ, (TA)
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4 g
Reverse: archer seated on throne right, wearing balshyk and cloak, holding bow, anchor with trident-like end behind; BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN APΣAKOY EYEPΓETOY ΔIKAIOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ / (TA)
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
Reverse: archer without beard, with cloak and bashlyk seated on throne, holding bow; (TAI) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ // ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ // ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ // ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ / ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.2 g
Reverse: archer without beard, with cloak and bashlyk seated on throne, holding bow ;ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩN ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, Φ_(TA) monogram
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.7 g
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Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ or similar, below bow
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.43 g