Rare AE drachm, Prince B (c.200/220 AD), Elymais Kingdom

Bust with a large bun above and behind / Athena standing right, holding shield and spear. 13mm, 2.61 grams. Susa mint (?). Van't Haaf #20.1.

This ruler never placed his name on the coins, so his name remains unknown. He is commonly referred to as "Prince B".

Elymais or Elamais (Graecized form of the more ancient name, Elam) were a people who were subject to Arsacid control from 247 BC to 221 AD, and was the name of the region they inhabited (roughly corresponding to the region named Susiana). It was reportedly these people were great archers and natives of Susa, which lies to the east of Elymais territory. Most of the Elymais were probably descendants of the ancient Elamites. Very little is known about their history, and nothing at all is known of their language, even though "Elamite" was still used by the Achaemenid Empire 250 years before the Elymais came into existence. The kingdom of Elymais survived until its extinction by Sassanid invasion in the third century AD.

SKU  x12098-w55916