Recently I posted my first coin from Harlans Buy or Bid. Below is coin #2. I already have a nice drachm of him, but I really liked this Tet & the price seemed more than fair. I'm always excited to add Parthian Tets since they can get expensive. Gotarzes II (40 -51 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm O: Bust of king diademed left, wearing long pointed beard. R: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν] / ΑΡΣ[ΑΚΟΥ] ΕΥΕΡΓ[ΕΤΟΥ] / [ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ] / ΕΠΙΦΑ[ΝΟΥΣ] ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗ[ΝΟΣ] King enthroned r. receiving diadem from Tyche standing before him holding cornucopia, date in field above diadem. Year ENT = 43/4 AD 14.33g 28mm Sellwood 65.1 or 2 (month off flan). Ex. Harlan J Berk Buy or Bid Sale, #213, Lot 165
Dang, I wish I would've known about this. I doubt I could've afforded anything but FFIVN and my favorite table at the Baltimore Whitman show was Harlan J. Berk's with the pretty awesome "junk bin" of ancients.
@Mat.....A really nice example.. Lovely detail on the portraits of Tyche and the king in amongst the word search! Super addition to your collection...
Very nice pick-up. The portraits on 1st century AD Parthian tetradrachms are not particularly realistic, but I think they are aesthetically pleasing anyway. (The Baltimore coin show has used a photo of a Gotarzes II tet obverse on the sign indicating the Ancient and World section of the bourse.) Here's a couple of Gotarzes II tets from my collection (the second one has some significant multiple-strike issues):
Very nice. Harlan Berk are a national treasure to the ancients hobby in my eyes. Good coins for fair prices.
Lovely coin... I have never purchased from HB - seems a little intimidating. So how do these "Buy or Bid" sales work? Is it like the "Buy It Now" option on eBay? - pay full price to buy now ...or place a lower bid and see if it holds? How does the bidding work?
Nice score Mat ! I also won a lot from his recent auction & will post it when I have time to photographic it. He gave me a gift certificate early in the year that I applied to this sale. Berk is good to his loyal customers . Pictured below is a Gotarzes Tet I sold a while back. It was struck a few years later than your coin.
Great catch, @Mat ! I really like that interesting reverse with the King receiving the Diadem from Tyche. Interesting,
