Since the Parthicus Collection is now up on the CNG site, it's time for me to get down to building Parthicus Collection 2: Electric Boogaloo. Here's my latest acquisition: Parthian Kingdom. AE tetrachalkon (18mm, 4.87g). Ekbatana mint. Orodes II (57-38 BC). Obverse: King's diademed bust left. Reverse: Stag right, Ekbatana mint-symbol before, uncertain symbol above, inscription around. Sellwood 45.38, Shore 512. Orodes II is one of the better-documented Parthian rulers, as usual because he interacted a lot with the Romans. He dealt the triumvir Crassus a crushing defeat in 53 BC, and during the upheaval of the Roman Civil War in 40 BC Parthian troops briefly controlled much of Syria, Asia Minor, and Judaea. Orodes was more Hellenized than most of the Parthian monarchs. He was reportedly quite fluent in Greek (it was during a production of Euripides' Bacchae that the severed head of Crassus made its acting debut) and married a Hellenistic princess of Commagene. Unfortunately, in 38 BC he appointed his least worthy son, Phraates IV, as successor, who promptly had his father killed. Phraates IV would go on to marry the former Roman slave-concubine Musa, whose own son Phraatakes would in turn murder Phraates IV before seizing the throne and marrying his mother. (Seriously, Hollywood needs to adapt this family story.) The Parthian nobility were fond of hunting, as befits their origins as horseback-riding nomads, which may explain the choice of a stag for the reverse type. This coin was acquired from CNG eSale 395 at a final hammer of $200. That's not a bad price for a Parthian bronze of this quality. The Parthians issued relatively small quantities of bronze relative to their silver output, and much of the bronze that has survived is in pretty miserable condition. Please post your Parthian bronzes, or ancient coins with stags, or whatever else you can plausibly tie into the conversation.
WAY COOL Parthicus on the STAG! Really nice Tet ! The reason I captured an O II Drachm was because he purportedly poured molten gold down Crassus' gullet... either before he was dead or after... who knows the myth... PARTHIA Orodes II 57-37 BC AR Drachm 18mm 3.3g - killed Cassius poured gold - Ekbatana mint bust l stars cresent Arsakes I r on throne bow anchor Sellwood 48.9
At first I didn't want to collect Parthian bronze because all my coins were too much worn. Then I found a few better ones. One is rather much the same as yours, but especially the obverse is much more worn. Still, a nice stag. By the way, that silver drachm is a splendid piece! My coin is described as a tetrachalkon, 16 mm, 4.00 gr., Sellwood 45.39.
That coin was on my short list for CNG 395 but I was in Indiana on sketchy WiFi that day and was busy doing chores for my 103 y.o. MIL so bid on nothing in the sale. It is a very nice coin. Congratulations (I would not have bid that much so you saved nothing by my absence). My favorite Parthian AE is a tetrachalkon (21mm) of Mithradates II with horse. I can not find it in the books I have (MI is on obverse in the literature). If you can tell me anything about it, I would love to hear. Several years ago, I received a very nice letter from a gentleman who was writing a book on the Writings of John https://www.amazon.com/Writings-Joh.../ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= requesting permission to use the image and asking for a separate image of the coin. He had seen it in my group image on my Parthian pages. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/parthae.html Then as now that page was well hidden not even appearing in my menu but linked from the silver page below. I really should fix that in honor of it being posted poorly 19 years ago. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/parthar.html I sent him the image and mentioned that, while it was not a requirement, I always enjoyed seeing a copy of works in which my images appear. I offered to provide other images on request but never heard back. After a couple years I got a hardback copy of his book (500+ pages) including my photo on page 404. https://www.amazon.com/Writings-Joh.../ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Now it has been remaindered for a reduced price but I was somewhat surprised to get a $45 book for the use of a single photo that, to this day, I can not figure why he wanted. It is captioned telling us that the Parthians used horses. The book has several other coin photos from other sources most of which I could have supplied something that would have done equally well and none really seemed needed in the context of the section in which they appeared. I have provided images for other books and even got a couple pamphlets or paperbacks. Most used the images and sent nothing. Several used the images without asking. This was the case of what happens when you deal with a gentleman of honor. I suspect I am the only person who read (most of) the book but was not a seminary student but that is OK.
Thank you! I really like it as a clear-struck, centered piece. And, since I am new at forays into the Eastern Coin Collecting... I needed to trust the source. It was brought to you by the kind folks at JAZ Coins! (@John Anthony ) EDIT: I seriously thought about matching it up to you.
IT'S PARTHIA PARTY TIME!!! Artabanos II Mithradites III Osroes II Vologases III Party! Party! Party Hardy Parthia Time!
I have some relevant books, but identifying Parthian AE is not easy. I think this one is Vologases III (105-147), struck 118/9 at Seleucia. 17-15 mm. 4.49 grams. Bust left, bearded. Bust of Tyche, right. ΛY to right (year 430) = 118/9 Sellwood 79.52-58 variety, page 256 Shore -- but 421 for a Chalcis of 122/3 Sear Greek Imperial 5838 exactly!
Wow, Particus => that's a sweet OP-addition (congrats) ... but sadly, I would probably just lose it anyway
oh cool, that's an awesome stag parthicus! i only have the usual parthians with the archer reverse, here is my orodes ii...
I only have one Parthian bronze in my collection. Phraates III, 70-57 BC, Æ17 (Dichalkon) 3.50g Obv: bust l. Rev: horse stg r, lgnd around as Sellw 36.19 but no Nike on obv Frank S Robinson, November 15 2016 Bargain List, lot 88 Frank described it as "F/AF, brown patina, somewhat rough, actually not bad condition for Parthian bronze". I find it hard to bid on Parthian bronzes knowing that I could buy very impressive Parthian silver pieces for less than even a halfway decent bronze.
I found another one. Let me know if you think I have attributed it incorrectly. I am unsure of this series. Gondopharid Dynasty. Sanabares or Sanabares II. Usurper, Local ruler of Merv, circa 50-65 AD (or 2nd century AD?) Æ drachm, 13mm Mint: Margiane, undated Obv: bareheaded bust left, tapering beard, hair billowing but no distinct waves or symbols; wears diadem. Rev: archer seated right with bow, behind thrown symbol/tamgha of Vologases Shore 477-483. Sellwood 93
Parthia, Herat. King Sanabares (c. A.D. 50 - 65) AE DrachmObv: Bust left wearing diadem. Rev: Archer seated right with bow. Sellwood 93.4-5. Nice coins Parthicus! Here is the only one in my collection.
That wart is considered a hereditary birthmark separating the True Arsacids from impostors. Here's another Parthian bronze, its reverse showing a galloping ram with curved horns. King Osroes II (c. 190 AD), 13 mm, 1.93 gr. Sellwood 85.4.
I have all the books too, but in practice I'm often using this website for identifying coins, part of parthia.com. Also I'm a member of Parthia-L@yahoogroups, that is not very active but occasionally gives a lot of inside information and links.
