Terrific coins, all.
The little AE below is quite ugly. But it is special enough that it prompted my first coin purchase since January of 2020. (I've been totally immersed in collecting ancient
pottery and
weapons for several years.) Joe couldn't have
had it listed very long before I spotted it, and snagged it.
According to my records, I've been collecting coins from
Elymais since 2011. My Elymaeans are here:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=3637Now, the
history of
Elymais is divided into three historical/dynastic phases: the Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty (c. 148 - 127 BC), the Later Kamnaskirid Dynasty (c. 82 - 32 BC) - which emerged after almost a half century of
Parthian rule, and the
Elymais Arsacid Dynasty (c. 25 BC - 228 AD), which ended when
Elymais fell to the Sassanians.
One of my longtime numismatic "holy grails" has been a coin -
any coin - from the Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty. They are very, very
rare. All of my Elymaeans prior to this purchase are from either the Later Kamnaskirid Dynasty or the
Elymais Arsacid Dynasty.
So, this coin - being from the Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty - fills an important gap in my collection.
The two decades of the so-called Early Kamnaskirid Dynasty were a time of political flux, where the rule of
Elymais seemed to constantly change
hands. At times the Seleucids ruled, while at other times
Parthia controlled the
area. During some periods the indigenous Kamnaskirids ruled. And, on perhaps three occasions, it seems, usurpers took control. The first usurper, Okkonapses, ruled for a short time around 140 BC before
Parthia's Mithradates I took control of the region. Another usurper, Dareios, may have ruled around 127 BC - although some have speculated
his rule was earlier.
One of the three usurpers, Tigraios, was likely a local king. He conquered the Elymaean capital Susa in 138/7 BC. In doing so, he seized power from the
Parthian viceroy to
Elymais, Phraates II, who was the son of
Parthia's King Mithradates I.
Tigraios
Usurper in
Elymais, c. 138/7 - 133/2 BC
AE unit
14 mm, 1.6 g
Obv: Helmeted, youthful male
bust facing right, pellet
borderRev: Eagle standing right, wings open,
legend (BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right, TIΓPAIOY on left) largely obscured and partially off-flan on this example
Van't Haaff 5.5.1-1
(photo credit:
www.forumancientcoins.com)