KINGS OF CHARACENE. Meredates, circa AD 131-150/1. Tetradrachm (Bronze, 26 mm, 14.42 g, 12 h), Charax-Spasinu, SE 454 = 142/3. Diademed and draped bust of Meredates to right, wearing tiara. Rev. ΜЄΡЄΔΑΤ[ΗC] / [BA]CIΛ[ЄYC] - [YIO]C ΦΟΒΑΡΑC / [ΦΙΛΟΠATOPOC] Turreted, diademed and draped bust of Tyche to right; below, YNΔ (date). Alram 506. BMC 1-15. Klose & Müseler -. Very rare and exceptionally well preserved, an attractive example of this highly interesting issue with unusually complete legends. Minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine.

Meredates was an Arsakid prince who ruled Mesene, or Charakene, from at least 131 until his expulsion in 150/1. He was a son of Pakoros II, the Arsakid King of Kings who ruled the Parthian Empire from approximately 78 to 110, and thus belonged to the highest echelon of the imperial dynasty. His precise constitutional position remains uncertain, but he appears to have governed the wealthy kingdom at the head of the Persian Gulf with considerable autonomy within the wider Arsakid political order. His fall is recorded by the celebrated bilingual Greek and Parthian inscription on a bronze statue of Herakles from Seleukeia on the Tigris: it relates that Vologases IV invaded Mesene, expelled King Meredates, son of the former ruler Pakoros, and carried the statue away as a trophy. The mostly poorly preserved legends on Meredates’ coins were initially interpreted as naming a queen called Uiphoba and were later expanded to describe him as 'King of the Omani.' The turreted female bust on the reverse is now recognized as Tyche rather than as a royal portrait. Adopting Pasmans’ revised reading, the legend should instead be read ΜЄΡЄΔΑΤΗC / BACIΛЄYC – YIOC ΦΟΒΑΡΑC / ΦΙΛΟΠATOPOC, understood as 'King Meredates, son of Phobaras Philopator.' In the light of the independent evidence provided by the Herakles inscription, the otherwise puzzling name Phobaras is best understood as referring to Meredates’ father Pakoros, although the discrepancy between the two forms remains noteworthy. The revised reading removes any reference to the Omani and shows that the legend instead emphasised Meredates’ royal ancestry and Arsakid legitimacy (cf. Pasmans, Meredat, no longer king of the Omani?, in: RBN 168 [2022], pp. 308–315)