During his short four year reign, Artabanos remained chiefly preoccupied with repeated unrest in the southern provinces of Mesene and Elam, and the nomad attacks in north-east Parthia. Although largely successful in extending Arsakid jurisdiction over the southern regions of the empire (confirmed by his S18.2 tetradrachm from Susa and S21 series from Seleucia), and in pushing the northern invaders as far as Margiane (attested by his S20.5-6, S22.4, and Shore 64 drachms), he seems to have ultimately succumbed to a poisoned arrow he received in his arm while fighting the “Tochari” in eastern Parthia about April or May 122 BC.
KINGS of PARTHIA. Artabanos I. Circa September/October 126 - April/May 122 BC. AR Drachm (4.03 gm). Ekbatana mint. Diademed bust left / ΒΑΣΙ−ΛΕΩ[Σ] ΜΕΓ−ΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟ[Σ], Arsakes I seated right on omphalos, holding bow. Sellwood 20.1; Shore 59; BMC Parthia pg. 21, 4; MACW 507. Good
