KINGS OF CHARACENE. Hyspaosines, circa 127-124 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32 mm, 15.79 g, 12 h), posthumous issue under Apodakos, Charax-Spasinu, SE 191 = 122/1. Diademed head of Hyspaosines to right. Rev. [Β]ΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΥΣΠΑΟΣΙΝΟΥ Herakles seated left, holding club set on his knee with his right hand and leaning left on rock draped with lion skin; to outer left, monogram of AΓ; in exergue, ΑϘΡ. Alram 491. Assar fig. 17. De Morgan 1 and pl. XL, 1 var. P. Pasmans: De Zilveren Muntslag op Naam van Hyspaosines (132/1-121/0 v.Chr.) en Zijn Opvolger Apodakos (112/1-103/2 v.Chr.), Koningen van Characene: in Diestse Studiekring voor Numismatiek, Jubileumboek 2006-2021 (Numismatische Studies 3), no. 32-5. Sunrise -. Lightly toned and with an attractive portrait. Light marks, otherwise, good very fine.

According to Lucian, Hyspaosines passed away at the age of 85, which, if the information is correct, suggests he was born around 209 BC and only declared himself king when he was over 80. It is believed that he had already ruled as a satrap over Mesene during the Seleukid period - a region that later became known as Characene, after Hyspaosines rebuilt its capital Antioch and renamed it Charax Spasinou. Following the Parthian conquests, Hyspaosines was compelled to act with increasing autonomy, even managing to temporarily expel the invaders from Seleukeia on the Tigris. However, after his death on 11 June 124, after a long, eventful, and adventurous life, the newly established kingdom of Characene quickly fell under Parthian influence