Does any one know what the inscription says? I tried looking them up on line but, no avail to the text. Nice Parthians!
Great job on the Parthians @Deacon Ray ! Very nice quality. I only have a couple: Parthia Mithradates III 58-55 BCE AR Drachm 3.9g 20mm Rhagae mint star archer bashlyk throne bow Selwood 41-12 Oops! Forgot to provenance this one: ex @John Anthony Parthia Mithradates 1 reigned 165-132 BCE minted 177-138 BCE AR Drachm Comment: Wikipedia - "Mithridates I made Parthia into a major political power by expanding the empire to the east, south, and west. During his reign the Parthians took Herat (in 167 BC), Babylonia (in 144 BC), Media (in 141 BC) and Persia (in 139 BC). Because of his many conquests and religious tolerance, he has been compared to other Iranian kings such Cyrus the Great (d. 530 BC), founder of the Achaemenid Empire"
I do collect Parthians and would rather you didn't. They used to be cheap when I got most of mine but Fred Shore published his book and doubled demand and prices. I don't get as many anymore. Maybe I don't need any more coins, so go ahead, buy them all. If you run across the Sellwood or Shore books for a reasonable price, I do suggest buying them. They have gone up a lot more than the coins.
@Deacon Ray: I think I said it before, but that's a very worthy little Parthian collection. I think the Orodes II drachm is my favorite, with the early portrait style. The Phraates IV drachm is a high-quality specimen, but I never cared for that portrait as it makes him look kind of silly- I prefer the type where he has a pointy beard and thin mustache, and looks just like the man who would murder his own father to seize the throne, and in turn be murdered by his own son... @Pickin and Grinin: The standard inscription is "Basilews basilewn Arsakou, euergetou dikaiou, epiphanous, philellenos." Some of the earlier types do not include all of the titles, and some bronzes shorten or omit the legends altogether. Also, if anyone is inspired to buy Parthian coins, I quietly mention that my collection (400 different, silver and bronze) is on consignment at CNG and will be sold sometime in the next year.
