Extremely Rare Coin Of The Persian Satrap Pharnabazus II
This unique and previously unknown ancient coin is an electrum hekte from Phocaea (map) in Ionia, struck around 410 BC. It shows the head of the Persian satrap Pharnabazus II wearing a Persian tiara bound with an elaborate diadem; behind him is a swimming seal. The reverse is a simple quadripartite incuse square.
Pharnabazus II was a Persian soldier and statesman. He was the son of Pharnaces II of Phrygia and grandson of Pharnabazus I of Phrygia, and great grandson of Artabazus. He and his male ancestors had governed the satrapy of Phrygia on the Hellespont from its headquarters at Dascylium since 478 BC. He married Apama, daughter of Artaxerxes II of Persia, and their son Artabazus was a satrap of Phrygia.
Allegedly, Pharnabazus II was descended from Otanes, one of the associates of Darius I the Great in the murder of Smerdis (aka Bardiya), son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II, both Persian kings. Otanes is mentioned in Herodotus’ Histories 3.68.1, 3.68.3 and 3.69.6.