New Parthian From JAZ Numismatics

Sure, it was nice to get a Roman imperial and a Roman Republic denarii over the last few days after almost 2 months of eastern purchases...but all good things come to an end. It's back to the east for me, gals and gents. So long Europa, hello again Asia.

Here is my 2nd Parthian, which i picked today from a dealer a few of you may be slightly familiar with.

Mithradates III, 58/7-55 BC
AR drachm, 3.9 g, 20 mm, 12h; Mithradatkart mint.
Obv: short-bearded bust left wearing double-banded diadem and segmented necklet with medallion; circular border of pellets.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΕΥΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; Beardless archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated right on throne, holding bow in right hand; below bow, monogram.
Reference: Selwood 41.5

And here is my other Parthian, a Vologases III

 

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Had a feeling you would get this one!

 

Very NICE Sallent! I like your Vologases III with a great strike!

I have a couple Parthians...


Parthia
Mithradates III 58-55 BCE
AR Drachm 3.9g 20mm
Rhagae mint
star archer bashlyk throne bow
Selwood 41-12



Parthia Mithradates I 177-138BCE
AR Drachm

 

You know my heart. I love my Greek and Roman coins immensely, but for variety and for interest forms/shapes, Asian coins take the cake. They can range from your Parthians and Indo-Greeks that somewhat imitate Greek coinage, all the way to your "bland" islamic, and further afield they assume unusual and unique forms/styles that European coinage can never match. I see Asian coinage as having a little bit for everyone no matter your tastes...and I'm a man of many tastes.

 

It is a very pleasing looking coin. I think you did well!

 

Nice OP-score, my lawyer friend

amazingly/sadly I don't have one single example of this coin-type in my 400 ancient coin collection!! (yah, the archer is always on my wish-list, but never one of my kill-shots!!)

great coin though (I'm totally jealous of the new score ... nice style)

 

Congrats on your new coin. I see you are into III-rds. I like them because I am a III-rd also.

 

That's a very nice Mithradates III there, Sallent! The portraits on Parthian coins tend to be centered low, so it's unusual to find one where you can see the ends of the diadem like on your coin.

 

nice! i wish i had the cash to give you a little competition on that mithridates iii...i'd like to get on of the "short beard" busts.

i do have a vologases iii that's pretty sweet...

 

It is not too hard to get carried away with Parthians. Alegandron's MI is a special type from the early days with very different portraits and shorter legends. Each needs one of these. I also think there should be extra demand for a few other 'classes':
A tiara type. Orodes I


A facing bust. Phraates III


A nice forehead wart and a bird behind the bust: Phraates IV


Vonones I not only put his own name in Greek on both sides but the reverse reads "King Vonones conqueror of Artabanos". Perhaps we should mention that when the war ended, Artabanos won but his coins don't rub it in. You really need one of these.


Mithradates added an extra line above the reverse giving his name in Parthian. The rest of the legend is corrupt Greek which is getting harder and harder to read by this time. Not only do you need one of these but you want one off center in the correct direction so you can see that top line.


Near the very end, the Greek is really illegible and reverse style gets crude. Vologases VI took pity on us and put his monogram on the obverse so we would recognize his coins. I like the way his beard overlaps the beaded circle at the bottom. Many later coins show this if the centering allows.


There are many other special Parthians which I still lack and will continue to lack because most of you will pay more for them than I will. There are a couple I really want and anyone who knows me could figure out which they are with very little effort.

Did anyone else notice that the last JA sale sold the coins that were neither Greek nor Roman but not the nice examples of the easy stuff. What is going on here? Are we leaving the Dark Side and diving into a Black Hole?

 

@dougsmit I noticed the same thing with JA's sale. I can't speak for anyone else here, and this is probably going to sound like blasphemy, but I am not looking to own everything that everyone else here has just because they have it and like it. I want to find my own stride, so I've stopped chasing what everyone else thinks I must or should have, and buying what I personally like or appeals to me.

If I see a Roman or Greek coin that calls my attention and I have the money for it, sure, I'll get it. But I personally find Islamic, European medieval, and ancient/medieval Indian and Asian coinage more interesting than the Roman and Greek stuff that everyone else considers the end all be all of this hobby.

That has been a major change with me. When i started this hobby, I was simply ticking the boxes off like everyone else. Now it's not enough to get an Elagabalus denarius just to tick off the box...I'd rather buy a cool Ancient Indian or Asian coin instead. I'll get the Elagabalus eventually, but only when i find one that particularly appeals to me for one reason or another (condition, or style, or design, or history behind the coin, etc). I'm not in a hurry to get the Roman or Greek just to tick any box based on what anyone thinks anymore. I'll fill those in at my own pace when I find something that speaks to me.

Anyway, that's just me. I don't claim to speak for anyone else here, I'm simply stating the transformation I've undergone as a collector over the last two months. If I felt the same at the beginning as I do now, there are some coins I own that I would not have bought then...but no matter, I still like them and will keep them as a reminder of the progress I've made as a collector.

I hope I don't get hate over this, but it's how I feel.

 

That is what makes it fun for me: I chase the niches and areas that excite me. Yes, there a few coins that folks have that I get. But, most of my collection revolves around the eclectic areas that don't excite the mainstream Ancients collector, rather they excite me. I am not selling my coins, so I have no one to impress other than myself. Enjoy!

LOL get "hate" over it? Naw, I never concerned myself about that. Your money, your hobby, your loves. Go for it YOUR way!

 

Ummm, perhaps one day I may end-up pulling the trigger on one of these archer-types, but for whatever reason I merely quickly scroll-through this section and also through the fire alter attendant coins as well => hey, I'm pretty sure that Noob and Sallent love hearing that, for they'll be able to score 'em all!!

Yah, they just seem a bit repetitive ... ummm, kinda like the chariot-types in the AR-RR series (ho-hum) ... oh, or the Chinese cash coins

... sorry, it's merely my coin-opinion (I'm fairly sure that some of you think that my animal-theme gets a bit tired as well, eh?)

Yup, that's what makes this ancient coin thingy sooo fricken cool => there are sooooo many different coin avenues to follow, so we're all psyched that we're all on the coolest coin-path!!

=> cheers, coin-brothers (and sweet coin-sisters)



... hmmm, maybe I should eat a Snickers,eh?

 

Yay! More for me!

It's alright, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Now excuse me while I round up the angry mob, the pitchforks, and the wood for the stake.



Just kidding my coin bro. We love ya.

 

That is ok Steve. You fall asleep with the Chinese cash and the Roman -Drigas... But I have eaten most of the animals you collect... LOL

 

Don't take it personally, my cool coin-friend ... "together" we're Cointalk!!

=> a very cool place, where I feel comfy chatting and joking about coins with you cool coin-folks

we're kinda awesome, eh? (how 'bout that Doug guy? => the dude is money)

 

Sallent said above, "I am not looking to own everything that everyone else here has just because they have it and like it. I want to find my own stride, so I've stopped chasing what everyone else thinks I must or should have, and buying what I personally like or appeals to me."

I think you have perfectly captured the spirit of a true collector. As I explained over in the "How did you start collecting ancients" thread, I didn't choose to focus on Parthian coins because they were popular (they are still a very distinct minority in the ancients community), but because _I_ liked them. I've been collecting ancients for almost 20 years, and have never once owned an Athenian owl. Never even really been tempted. Why? I can't really say, but it just doesn't appeal to me, so I'll spend my limited time and money elsewhere.

 

Like I said => we rock!!



... oh, except for those nasty Parthian coins!!

 

@John Anthony , make me Stevex6's Secret Santa. I'll be sure to send him one of those "nasty Parthian coins" for Christmas.

 

I'm a Jew this year





... is that wrong? (man, I always get that damn X-mas joke wrong)