It had been proposed that an interregnum existed between the death of Phraates II and the accession of Artabanos I (Sep./Oct. 126 – Apr./May 122 BC) wherein the Seleukeia mint temporised by using a fictitious portrait of Mithradates I on the S18 tetradrachms. Yet, thanks to the information in a couple of Babylonian cuneiform texts and a S18 overstrike on a tetradrachm of the Characenean ruler, Hyspaosines, it has been possible to show that the coinage was issued by a genuine Parthian ruler. [Dr. Assar has] identified the obverse portrait of this type with Bagases (Mar./Apr. – Sep./Oct. 126 BC) and assigned to him both the undated S18.1 and S18.1 var. (dated to 187 of the Seleukid Era), but not S18.2 which belongs to Artabanos I. (For a detailed discussion and analysis of the evidence see The Celator, vol. 15, no. 1 (Jan 2001), pp. 17-27 & 41 and vol. 15, no. 2 (Feb 2001), pp. 17-22.)
KINGS of PARTHIA. Bagases. Circa March/April - September/October 126 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.93 gm). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Diademed bust right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ, Demeter enthroned left, holding Nike and cornucopiae, nereid supporting throne. Sellwood 18.1; Shore -; BMC Parthia pg. 10, 29 (Mithradates I); MACW -; Le Rider, Suse pl. LXXI, 1.
