A Couple of New Parthian Drachms, Mithradates III...

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by John Anthony, Sep 3, 2016.

  1. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    More attribution challenges. I believe this is Mithradates III, 58/7-55 BC, Court at Rhagae mint, Selwood 41.12.

    Obv: short-bearded bust left wearing double-banded diadem and segmented necklet with medallion; behind bust, star; 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.

    mith 1 k.jpg

    From Parthia.com on Rhagae...

    Also Rayy. At or near the present day Tehran, Iran. The renaming of Europa-Rhagai to Arsakia may have occurred under Phraates I. (See M.L. Chaumont, "Etudes d'histoire Parthe II," Syria 50 (1973), p.204.) Debevoise tells us it was renamed much earlier, but did not long retain the new name. It was on the early Silk route that led from Areia (Herat) to Rhagae to Ecbatana.
     
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  3. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    And Selwood 40.3, Mithradatkart mint. Only difference, no star behind bust, different monogram. The necklace and medallion are clearer on this coin...

    mith 2 k.jpg

    Of Nisa - Mithradatkart, also from Parthia.com...

    Near modern Askabad in Turkmenistan. Excavated by the Southern-Turkmen Combined Archaeological Expedition from 1948 to 1961, uncovering many Parthian ostraca as well as material remains. The first Italian mission (University of Turin) in Nisa was in 1990 and the most recent in 2009.
     
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  4. Aidan_()

    Aidan_() Numismatic Contributor

    Cool coins JA, but parthians are out of my league.
     
  5. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Mine too, but I'm learning. Evidently there is some confusion as to which coins get assigned to which kings. These are also assigned Mithradates IV in some sources, with the same dates. And other sources have a Mithradates IV that comes much later, early 2nd-century AD. I took Doug's advice and ordered Fred Shore's book Parthian Coins and History, Ten Dragons Against Rome. We'll see if that helps. :)
     
  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Two points: 1. Never listen to Doug. He is just an old fool who tries to get you to spend money on books that cost more than the coins they cover. 2. No Perthian ID is sacred. There are many mints and rulers with differing opinions. I'll show an MIII which you can ID and see if we agree on it. Sellwood gives mint names but Shore did not. Am I saying a Parthian collector really needs both books? Yup! (Remember Point 1.)
    op0140bb0602.jpg

    I could get interested in these. You shouldn't.
     
  7. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    Nice to see some parthian coins, here are my most recent drachms...

    [​IMG]

    Parthian Empire, Vologases III, Drachm, 105-147 AD.

    O: Bust with diadem to l. R: Archer seated to r. holding bow. Monogram A below, Ecbatana mint, 3.9 g, 20 mm, Sellwood 78.3

    [​IMG]

    Parthian Kingdom. Vologases IV. A.D. 147-191. Silver Drachm

    O: Bust left with long, tapering and square cut beard, wearing double banded diadem with double loop, and tiara with earflaps, decorated with "hooks" on crest, ear and earring visible, spiral torque, dotted border. R: Archer enthroned right, pellet above arm, monogram below bow, single line Aramaic (top) , followed by a six-line stylised "Greek" inscription. Ecbatana .mint. 3.5 g, 19 mm. Sellwood type 84.128, ex. Tom Buggey.


    and my tetradrachm...

    [​IMG]

    Volgases IV, Tetradrachm. 147-191 AD

    O: Diademed bust left, wearing tiara; B behind / Greek legend, Vologases seated left on throne, Tyche standing right before him, presenting a diadem and holding sceptre; year (Seleucid 464, 152 AD), month below (November),Seleucia on the Tigris mint, 26 mm, 13.6 g. Sellwood 84.12-5; Shore 427.
     
  8. Bob L.

    Bob L. Well-Known Member

    Nice coins, John. Re: coin 2: yes, Mithradatkart, but I believe it's a Sellwood 41.5. Note the two legend lines on the reverse right. 40.3 only has one legend line there.
     
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  9. John Anthony

    John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

    Oops, yes. Thank you!
     
  10. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Cool posts guys!!

    I still have only two modest Parthian drachms....but I'll grab one or two more one of these days.
     
  11. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    This website, Parthia.com, gives a lot of information according to Sellwood types and about the differences between the Sellwood editions. Any collector of Parthian coins should know it.
     
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