Kingdom of Persis Emperor Artaxerxes II 1st century BCE AE Drachm Coin

Obverse: Small bust facing left, with a short beard, wearing a diadem with three ties, a three-segmented torque, and a mural crown. A monogram appears on the right side of the bust.

Reverse: Aramaic legend: “‘rthštr mlk’ brh d’ryw mlk’” (Meaning: “Ardashir the King, son of Darius the King”)

Artaxerxes II of Persis ruled during a transitional age when local kings claimed authority while operating under the wider influence of the Parthian Empire. He belonged to a proud lineage that asserted descent from the Achaemenid royal house, using names like Ardashir and Darius to reinforce ancestral legitimacy. His reign is characterized by a deliberate revival of older Persian religious and political traditions, especially the royal association with the sacred fire altar and the king’s role as guardian of ancestral rites.