Elymaïs (Susiana)

Alram, M. Iranisches Personennamenbuch: Nomina Propria Iranica In Nummis. Osterreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften. (Wien, 1986).
de la Fuÿa, Allotte. Monnaies de l 'Élymaïde. (Chartres, 1905; also in Rec. Num., 1902, p. 92).
Hill, G.F. Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. (London, 1922).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins: the Ancient and Classical World. (London, 1978).
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
van 't Haaff, P.A. Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage, Ca. 147 B.C. - A.D. 228. (Lancaster, PA. 2007).

Coins of Elymais in the Forum Ancient Coins Shop

Elymais was the biblical Elam and home of the magi. With its capitol at Susa, it was a small kingdom in what is now Iran and Kuwait. The Kingdom of Elymais struck coins from the middle of the 2nd century B.C. until their defeat by the Sasanians in 227 A.D. Of this district there are coins struck by dynasts name Kamnaskires, who are followed by kings named Orodes and Phraates, who are perhaps identical with the Parthian monarchs Orodes I and Phraates IV.

KAMNASKIRES I. NICEPHORUS. circ. B.C. 163?

Head of beardless king, diademed.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 1.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΜΝΑΣΚΙΡΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ. Apollo seated on omphalos (as on Seleucid coins)
AR Tetradrachm. (Paris).

KAMNASKIRES II (?), 'GREAT KING. '

No coins?

KAMNASKIRES III AND QUEEN ANZAZE, B.C. 82/81.
Busts of Kamnaskires and Anzaze, each wearing diadem; behind, anchor.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 2.]
ΒΑCΙΛЄΩC ΚΑΜΝΑCΚΙΡΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΙCCΗC ΑΝΖΑΖΗC. Zeus seated holding Nike. Dated A.S. '231 ' = B.C. 82/81.
Tetradrachm. 242 grs. (Brit. Mus.—Paris).
Also Drachm (B. M.).

KAMNASKIRES IV, 'SON OF THE GREAT KING KAMNASKIRES, ' circ. B.C. 75/71.
Bust, diademed.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 3.]
ΒΑΣΙΛ(ΕΩΣ ΚΑ) ΜΝΑΣΚΙΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ (μ) ΕΓ(αλον) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΜΝΑΣΚΙΡ(ον). Zeus seated holding Nike. Date A.S. 241 = B.C. 72/71.
AR Tetradrachm. (Paris).
Also Drachm (B. M.).
Older bust with pointed beard, diademed.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 4]
Similar inscription. Head, beaded, diademed
AR Tetradrachm. (Paris); (B. M.) 242 grs.

823

The numerous bronze coins of Elymais bear on obv. the king 's head (with or without tiara), usually accompanied by an anchor or by a crescent and star. A goddess, probably Artemis, sometimes appears on the rev. Some of these may belong to Kamnaskires IV; others bear the names of Orodes = Orodes I of Parthia(?); Phraates = Phraates IV of Parthia(?) ; Osroes = Osroes of Parthia(?), &c. When legends appear, they are in Greek letters barbarously formed or in Chaldaeo-Pehlvi.