I just can't get enough of those facing Parthians... Parthian Kingdom, mint of Seleucia-on-the-Tigris. Vologases IV (147-191 AD). AE dichalkoi (17mm, 4.29g). Obverse: Facing bust of Vologases IV, date 466 of the Seleucid Era (= 154 AD) to right. Reverse: Tyche seated left on column, palm branch before. Sellwood 84.142. Ex Agora Auctions Sale 70, lot 109. Vologases IV apparently took the throne peacefully in 147 AD. He successfully reconquered Characene, which had been ignoring its nominal Parthian overlords for a couple of decades, and may have collected together some of the Zoroastrian scriptures (it's not clear exactly which King Vologases did this). However, the main event of his reign was a war with Rome from 161 to 166. As usual, the war started over control of Armenia: Vologases invaded Armenia in 161, expelled its pro-Roman king, and installed his own puppet on the throne. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus had just become co-emperors of Rome, and they quickly took action. Lucius Verus was sent with several legions to re-install a Roman client, and if possible seize Parthian territory in Mesopotamia. It seems Lucius Verus spent most of his time in Syria, well behind the front lines, leaving all the actual fighting to his subordinates. However, the Roman generals proved quite competent, and in addition to shifting Armenia back to Roman control, they re-established the semi-independent buffer kingdom of Osrhoene at Edessa, seized some territory in northern Mesopotamia to incorporate under Roman rule, and in 165 captured the major Parthian cities of Ctesiphon and Seleucia. This apparently forced Vologases to sue for peace, under terms which left Rome in possession of some new territory in northern Mesopotamia and client-kings in Edessa and Armenia, while Vologases got back the two cities (with the palace at Ctesiphon destroyed and much of Seleucia looted). Lucius Verus was awarded the title of Parthicus Maximus for his role in the war. Little is known of the latter part of Vologases' reign, except that he suppressed the rebellion of Osroes II around 190. Vologases IV dies in 191 AD. This coin was struck at Seleucia, which issued a lengthy series of bronze coins featuring Tyche on the reverse and which usually bear the year date. However, the reason for this variety featuring a facing bust portrait of the king, when Vologases IV's other coinage features a standard profile bust, is not known. Also, like many Parthian bronze coins, this shows evidence that the flan was originally cast in a strip, which was then cut apart into individual blanks. Although this is not a very pretty example, this type is fairly scarce, so I didn't want to pass up an opportunity when this was featured in Agora Auctions. Share your relevant coins here.
Cool Parthian AE! I still don't have any bronze coins, but here is a V IV tyche combo tet! 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.
