We might ask ourselves why we buy a coin. That is my life story. This one is a type I lacked but I have couple others that are similar. It is not a particularly great specimen but it has a technical situation attracted me to it. I wish I could tell you who issued the coin or which mint was used. Experts lately have backed away from the Sellwood/Shore era ID and now use a spread covering kings Priapatius through Mithradates I. I have not read the explanation on which they base this change so I can not tell you whether it seems well founded. We have always known that we did not have a great handle on the ID's of the entire Parthian series where so many kings used the name Arsakes who founded the dynasty. The coin is very cupped in comparison to most of these as can be seen by the skidmarks (must be a better term) caused by the top legend sliding down the slope of the flan. Not all coins struck from the same die will look exactly like this but small differences in angle, centering and strength of the hammer will make a difference. The coin seems to be a variation on Sellwood 10 but I am unclear on how to separate some of the sub-varieties. Does anyone have a good photo of a certain Sellwood 10.10? Below are my other two early Parthians showing the king wearing the bashlyk (hat) were both considered Mithradates I when I got them but are now equally uncertain as the new purchase. The first (Sellwood 9 var) is considered earlier and has two lines of legend (King Arsakes). The second is a Sellwood 10 var. but most unusual because it is fourree. Parthian fourrees are very rare. I have to consider the possibility that the coin was overstruck on a Roman fourree denarius without the mint realizing its status. We will never know. Any comments by those more into Parthians than I am would be most welcomed. Pile on your bashlyk wearing Parthians.
Total winner. I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I have a few Parthian, but none of that particular type. Great find!
Nice Drachmae Doug! This is the only one of this type that I have. Parthia 177-138 BCE AR Drachm Diademed draped bust Mithradates I left bashlik - archer seated on omphalos Sellwood 10.1
Neat looking OP-addition, Mentor (I like the skid-marked cup) Not my favourite so far, but I'm definitely giving you 4-fer-4 Ummm, here is a Pontos example with a bashlyk (does it count?) Pontos, Amisos Æ 26 (Under Mithradates VI Eupator) Circa 120-111 or 100-95 BC Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 21.10 grams Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing bashlik Reverse: AMI-ΣOY across field, quiver and unstrung bow
Interesting addition Although it's in french (sorry I mainly have french resources, finding them easy reading ) you might find this website of interest : http://www.parthika.fr/ Q
The invaluable parthia.com website has a photo of a 10.10 on this page of Sellwood 10 varieties: http://www.parthia.com/mithradates1.htm#Type_10 Nice addition, definitely a type 10 but I can't be sure of the subtype due to condition.
