I did own one a while back. I am not crazy about the Parthian designs yet this one has a killer eye appeal and sharpness on both obverse bust and reverse archer, and will be my Parthian type specimen for my undefined theme. Took quick and dirty images yet will try to improve. PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Pacorus (Vologases III ca. AD 78-120). AR drachm (3.79 gm). Ecbatana mint. Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Pacorus left. Rev: Archer (Arsaces I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Beautifully toned. NGC MS* 4/5, 5/5.
Parthians would be a lot more popular if more of the kings had put their names on the coins instead of hiding behind the family Arsakes. That leads to some disputes over just which coins belong to which king as shown on the OP slab label (There are some really different silver portraits but most reverses are a bit boring. The bronzes have more variety in reverses but most are small and a bit crude. Notice that Parthian drachms tend to be centered low. Coins showing the bottom of the dotted border are unusual. Mithradates I Mithradates II Orodes I Phraates III Phraates IV Phraatakes Pacorus II Vologases III Vologases VI There are a couple rare ones that I would really like including Volagases V who was fought by Septimius Severus and punished for supporting Pescennius Niger. Who has one of his to show?
Doug what a selection and wealth of knowledge. There seem to be so many varieties for these http://www.parthia.com/parthia_sellwood.htm#Sellwood_2 that one can commit a lifetime to the "series". For me as a Taler collector, variety mapping is far simpler.
[There are a couple rare ones that I would really like including Volagases V who was fought by Septimius Severus and punished for supporting Pescennius Niger. Who has one of his to show?[/QUOTE] I've got four Volo V's, Doug: a drachm and three tets (one quite nice, one pretty nice - which I just got at auction and need to rephoto, and one crappy but very cheap). Attaching pics. Btw, Doug, I love the Parthians you posted...and that Mithra II is my personal fav from among your 99 1/2. Nice coin, Zohar444! Bob
I've got four Volo V's, Doug: a drachm and three tets (one quite nice, one pretty nice - which I just got at auction and need to rephoto, and one crappy but very cheap). Attaching pics. Btw, Doug, I love the Parthians you posted...and that Mithra II is my personal fav from among your 99 1/2. Nice coin, Zohar444! Bob[/QUOTE] Very nice, Bob!
My personal favorite: Vologases IV Tetradrachm. Not really rare or special condition. What i like about it is that it can be quite accurately dated to May 175 AD. The three characters between the opposing faces indicate Seleukid era year 487, which equals 175 AD. The characters below the seated figure are the month name, which in this case corresponds to May.
