TEHRAN – Iranian police have seized 15 historical coins believed to date back to the Parthian era in Darrehshahr, Ilam province.

Two persons were arrested and handed over to the judiciary after the recovery of 15 Parthian-era coins, ISNA news agency reported on Sunday, citing police officials.

Karam Hassani, a police commander in Darrehshahr, stated: “Following the timely intelligence measures and monitoring by  Darrehshahr intelligence police officers and with the comprehensive cooperation of the city's intelligence, it was determined that individuals were planning to send a number of historical coins by mail to an unknown destination.”

He noted that after coordinating with the judicial authority and in an operation, the police officers identified and arrested the two suspects, and 15 pieces of historical silver coins were discovered and seized during the inspections.

Stating that the suspects were introduced to the judicial authority after the case was filed for legal proceedings, he clarified: “According to the cultural heritage experts, the discovered coins date back to the Parthian period and their approximate value is estimated at 15 billion rials ($10,000).”

The Parthian Empire, also known as the Arsacid Empire, was a major Iranian political and cultural power centered in ancient Iran from 247 BCE to 224 CE. Its name derives from its founder, Arsaces I, who led the Parni tribe in conquering Parthia, a northeastern region of Iran.

Under Mithridates I (r.c.171–132 BC), the empire significantly expanded, seizing Media and Mesopotamia from the Seleucids. At its zenith, the Parthian Empire extended from the northern Euphrates River (modern central-eastern Turkey) to present-day Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Positioned along the Silk Road, the empire thrived as a hub for trade and commerce, connecting the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean to the Han dynasty in China.

KD