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Mithradates IISeleukia on the Tigris mint. Struck circa 119-109 BC. Sellwood 24.5; Sunrise 282; Shore 68.
Ex. CNG 105, Lot 483ThatParthianGuyJan 17, 2019
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Mithradates IIRhagai mint. Struck circa 109-96/5 BC. Sellwood 27.1; Sunrise 293; Shore 85.ThatParthianGuyJan 17, 2019
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MeherdatesAR drachm, 3.821 g, 20.8 mm, Sellwood 67.1 (Vonones II), Shore 368 (Vonones II), Sunrise 417 (Meherdates), SNG Cop 204 (Vardanes II), Ekbatana mint. Bust facing with moustache and very short beard, royal wart on brow, tiara with ear flaps and ornamented with a horn on each side, diadem loop and end extending on each side, flanked by two six-pointed stars / Blundered Greek legend forming square around, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, bow in extended right hand, cross below seat, Ekbatana mint monogram below bow.
From the Robert L3 Collection, ex Imperial Coins and ArtifactsThatParthianGuyJun 26, 2018
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Phraates IIIAR drachm, 4.095 g, 19.4 mm, Sellwood 38.10 variant (same), Shore -, Sunrise -, Margiane mint. Diademed and draped bust left, long pointed beard, pellet-ended spiral torque, border of dots / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, wearing bashlyk and cloak, bow in right hand, Π below bow; squared six-line Greek inscription BAΣIΛEΩΣ / MEΓAΛOY above, APΣAKOY on right, EYEPΓETOY below, EΠIΦANOYΣ / ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ on the left.
From the Robert L3 Collection, ex Pars CoinsThatParthianGuyJun 26, 2018
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Kamnaskires VCirca 54/3-33/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 5.25 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Hedyphon mint. Dated 267 SE (46/5 BC). Diademed and draped bust left, wearing long beard and torque; to right, star above anchor symbol / NXΩΛI(retrograde C}A(retrograde K) above, ΛI(retrograde C}A(retrograde K) to right, [...]ΛI(retrograde C}A(retrograde K) in exergue, KΛNΠΛ (in retrograde) to left, diademed and draped bust left, wearing beard; retrograde [Z]ΞΣ (date) in exergue. Cf. van’t Haaff Type 9.1.1-4 (for type); cf. Alram 463 (for type, but without date); cf. Sunrise 481 (same).ThatParthianGuyJan 17, 2018
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Pakoros IISilver drachm, SNP VII 1004 ff.; Sellwood 73.11; Shore 395; Sunrise 431; BMC Parthian p. 195, 15, weight 3.613 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 0o, Ecbatana (Hamedan, Iran) mint, c. 78 - 90 A.D.; obverse draped bust left with short pointed straight beard, wearing earring, diadem with four bands, loop behind, three diadem ends, torque without visible end; reverse archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, bow in extended right hand, cross under legs, TA pellet monogram under bow, squared seven-line blundered Greek legend around; from the Robert L3 Collection, ex Pegasi auction 22, lot 217
While Vologases (and his successor, Artabanos IV) ruled as Parthian king in Mesopotamia, Pakoros ruled in Iran. A state of conflict existed between the rivals until Pakoros emerged victorious circa 90 AD. Based on his beardless portraiture, he was obviously young at the time of his accession. The details of his reign and fate are unknown.ThatParthianGuyNov 29, 2017
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PARTHIA, Phraates IIEkbatana mint. Struck circa 128-127 BC. Diademed bust left / BAΣIΛ EΩΣ/MEΓ AΛOY downward to right, APΣAKOV/ΘΕΟΠATOPΣ (sic) downward to left, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow. Sellwood 16.1; Shore 41; Sunrise 269.
Published in "An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia" (1971) by David Sellwood. Plate number 3, identified as 16/1.ThatParthianGuyNov 21, 2017
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PARTHIA, Orodes IIRhagai mint. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing torque ending in pellet / BΛCIΛEΩC/BΛKIΛEΩH ΛP CΛKOY EVEPΓETOV/ΔIKΛ• •Y EÎ IΦΛNOYΣ/ΦIΛEΛΛNI• •C (sic), archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; ΓP monogram below bow; quadrate Cs in legend. Sellwood 45.12; cf. Shore 224 (for type); Sunrise –.
Published in "An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia" (1971) by David Sellwood. Plate number 5, identified as 45/10.ThatParthianGuyNov 21, 2017
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Antiochos II TheosAR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.90 g, 1h). Lysimacheia mint. Diademed head right / Apollo Delphios, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; monograms to outer left and in exergue. SC 483.7; Le Rider, Lysimachie, Group 2, dies D1/R4; HGC 9, 236a; CSE 660 (same dies).ThatParthianGuyJun 07, 2017
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Antiochos III MegasAR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.04 g, 12h). ΔI mint, in Southern or Eastern Syria. Struck circa 197-187 BC. Diademed head right / Apollo Delphios, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; ΔI in exergue. SC 1112; HGC 9, 447y. ThatParthianGuyJun 07, 2017
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Gotarzes II(14.16 gm; 28 mm). Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris in month Apellaios, year 358 SE (AD. 46). Diademed bust left / Gotarzes seated right, receiving wreath from Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia; (year) above. Sellwood 65.8var.; Shore 361; Sunrise 416.
Upon the death of their father Artabanos III, Vardanes I (the principal heir) and Gotarzes II contested for the kingship. Vardanes was eventually successful, but was murdered shortly thereafter. Like his father, Gotarzes’ subsequent rule was primarily consumed with internal strife. Also like his father, his primary rivals were supported by Rome as well as some of the Iranian nobility. He was ultimately successful, but his rule accomplished little, as the constant strife continued the overall slow decline of the Parthian kingdom.ThatParthianGuyJan 15, 2017
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Vologases VCirca AD 191-207/8. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.62 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Diademed facing bust with pointed beard of straight lines; hair in bunches above diadem and at sides / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow; king’s name in Aramaic in first line of legend. Sellwood 86.3; Sunrise 455; Shore 448.
Like his predecessor Vologases IV, Vologases V also had to deal with a large Roman invasion. Two events likely precipitated this. The first was Vologases’ support of the unsuccessful Pescennius Niger against Septimius Severus in the Roman civil war of 193-195 AD. While Niger perished, a number of his subordinates sought refuge with the Parthians. The second was Vologases’ determination to take advantage of the Roman civil war to extend Parthian influence into areas of Mesopotamia occupied by Rome. Seemingly in response, in 198 AD, Severus led a huge army across the Euphrates. Unfortunately, Vologases had been embroiled in a massive revolt in Iran and was unable to adequately prepare a defense. As with the invasion of Verus during Vologases IV’s reign, the Romans eventually captured Seleukeia and Ktesiphon. Little is known of Vologases’ later years.ThatParthianGuyDec 26, 2016
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Antiochos II Theos261-246 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.17 g, 7h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Diademed head of Antiochos I right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Apollo Delphios seated left on omphalos, testing bow in his right hand, left hand resting on omphalos; monograms to outer left and right. SC 587.1c; ESM 180; HGC 9, 236g.
From the RJM Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 891.
My first coin from Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris
ThatParthianGuyNov 07, 2016
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Vologases III78-120 CE. Ekbatana mint. Diademed bust left wearing tiara, with long pointed beard / Archer seated right, holding bow; below bow, monogram.Greek script around. 21.7 mm, 3.47 g. ref: Sellwood 78.4; Shore 413.
Vologases III entered the field of contenders for the kingship late in the reign of Pakoros II, and achieved dominance by 105 AD. His reign, long by the standards of this period of Parthian history, was primarily consumed with defending his position from a number of challengers, many of whom struck their own coins: Osroes I, Mithradates V, and an unknown king (see lots 497, 500, and 501, respectively). Osroes proved a strong challenge, securing Mesopotamia for himself, and relegating Vologases to his base in Iran. In 129 AD, Vologases appears to have finished with Osroes, but then Mithradates IV siezed control of Iran. He was succeeded in 147 by Vologases IV, apparently a son of Mithradates V.ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Orodes IIAR Drachm (20mm, 3.91 g, 12h). Rhagai mint. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing torque ending in pellet / BΛCIΛEΩC/BΛKIΛEΩH ΛP CΛKOY EVEPΓETOV/ΔIKΛ• •Y EÎ IΦΛNOYΣ/ΦIΛEΛΛNI• •C (sic), archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; ΓP monogram below bow; quadrate Cs in legend. Sellwood 45.12; cf. Shore 224 (for type); Sunrise –.
My first Parthian coin, published in David Sellwood's "An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia" (1971)
ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Phraates IIAR Drachm (21mm, 3.83 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Struck circa 128-127 BC. Diademed bust left / BAΣIΛ EΩΣ/MEΓ AΛOY downward to right, APΣAKOV/ΘΕΟΠATOPΣ (sic) downward to left, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow. Sellwood 16.1; Shore 41; Sunrise 269.
As a minor son of the Great Mithradates, Phraates II began his reign as a co-ruler with his mother, Riinu. The scanty evidence from this period reveals Phraates’ preoccupation with fighting the Seleukids under their king, Antiochus VII, in the west and the Sacae in the east. However, the presence of silver and copper coins from Susa indicate that he began his rule consolidating Parthian hegemony in Elam; a task that had already started in the closing months of his father’s reign. Although successful against the Seleukids (see below), his struggle against the Sacae was a protracted and severe conflict which began favorably but ultimately concluded in his defeat and death (from CNG).
Published in David Sellwood's "An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia" (1971)ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Arsakes IIAR Drachm (16mm, 4.09 g, 12h). Rhagai-Arsakeia(?) mint. Struck circa 211-209 BC. Head left, wearing bashlyk and earring / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; to right, eagle standing facing, head left, with wings displayed; APΣAK•Y downward to left. Sellwood 6.1; A&S Type 6, obv. 6/1, rev. 6/2; Shore 4; Sunrise 241-3.
Arsakes II, son of Arsakes I, ascended the Parthian throne about 210 BC. At roughly the same time, the Seleukid king Antiochos III (223-187 BC) marched out of Ecbatana to recover the eastern Seleukid provinces that were lost to the young Parthian kingdom. Justin (41.5.7) comments that Arsakes II fought with admirable gallantry against Antiochos, and finally became his ally. Whether the Parthians resumed minting after the return of Antiochos returned to Ekbatana in 205 BC, after his Baktrian expedition, cannot be ascertained. It is possible that, until his defeat by the Romans at the Battle of Magnesia in 190/189 BC, Antiochos held sway over Iran at least as far east as the Baktrian frontiers and thus suppressed the circulation of non-Seleukid currencies. Unfortunately, the exact date and circumstances of the death of Arsakes II are unknown. The superb condition of the great majority of S6 drachms of Arsakes II implies that they were minted and almost immediately interred at around the time of Antiochos III’s eastern expedition to Parthia and Baktria in 209 BC (from CNG).
ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Antiochos VIII Grypos121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.72 g, 11h). Sidon mint. Dated SE 196 (117/6 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠI-ΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios standing left, holding star in extended right hand and scepter in left; to outer left; ΣIΔΩ/IEP/AΣ in three lines above monogram; C9P (date) in exergue. SC 2330.1; CSE 723; HGC 9, 1197g; DCA 268.
In 121 BCE, a very rare astronomical event occurred in the sky. The moon had eclipsed Jupiter, a significant celestial body of the ancient world. This phenomenon was visible from Antioch, the capital of the then-collapsing Seleucid Empire. Antiochos VIII saw this as a good omen, a harbinger that a great leader would come to Syria, so he struck symbols of the eclipse on the reverse side of Tetradrachms. The crescent above Zeus' head is the moon, and the star hovering above his hand is Jupiter.ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Mesopotamia, HatraObv: Head of Shamash right, Aramaic inscription reading: Enclosure of Shamash (referring to the temple complex at the center of the city) Rev: Eagle standing left, wings displayed. Inverted SC, surrounded by wreath. ThatParthianGuyAug 20, 2016
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Ephesian ArtemisI took this photo while visiting the ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey, in August of 2013. Along one of the avenues was this relief of one of Ephesus' most unique symbols: the Ephesian Artemis. Large cult statues of this goddess would be placed in the Artemis Temple just outside the city. Ephesian Artemis can occasionally be found on the reverse sides of Seleucid coins.ThatParthianGuyJan 08, 2016
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Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos)121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.72 g, 11h). Sidon mint. Dated SE 196 (117/6 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠI-ΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios standing left, holding star in extended right hand and scepter in left; to outer left; ΣIΔΩ/IEP/AΣ in three lines above monogram; C9P (date) in exergue. SC 2330.1; CSE 723; HGC 9, 1197g; DCA 268. Near EF, lightly toned. In 121 BCE, a very rare astronomical event occurred in the sky. The moon had eclipsed Jupiter, a significant celestial body of the ancient world. This phenomenon was visible from Antioch, the capital of the then-collapsing Seleucid Empire. Antiochos VIII saw this as a good omen, a harbinger that a great leader would come to Syria, so he struck symbols of the eclipse on the reverse side of Tetradrachms. The crescent above Zeus' head is the moon, and the star hovering above his hand is Jupiter.
ThatParthianGuyDec 16, 2015
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