Here is (almost certainly) the last coin to be added to my collection in 2017: Indo-Parthians in Margiana or Sogdiana. 1st century AD. AR drachm. Obverse: Imitation of portrait of the Parthian king Vardanes I (40-45 AD), c/m of a different bearded bust left (resembles Phraates IV on a bad day?). Reverse: Imitation of standard Parthian seated archer reverse with blundered pseudo-legend, some flatness due to c/m on other side. Sellwood 91.14. VAuctions Sale 328 (Triskeles 22), lot 203. This coin comes from the eastern part of the Parthian empire, where eastern Iran meets central Asia, although the exact location of its manufacture is unknown, hence the weaselly "Margiana or Sogdiana" which covers a huge swath of territory. Local rulers in this eastern borderland (whether they owed nominal fealty to the Parthian king, or merely wanted to advertise on a convenient medium) often counterstruck Parthian drachms of the 1st century BC, either with a small face (several distinct varieties known) or with a tamgha symbol. Starting with Phraates IV, there were also local imitations of Parthian coins struck in this area, which were then countermarked as before. A few coins were even made that saved a step, by engraving the "countermark" directly into the die! This imitation of Vardanes I seems to be the last Parthian-imitative type made in the region prior to the extensive bronze coinage issued in the name of Sanabares and his successors. This countermarked Eastern series is extensive enough that Sellwood devoted an entire type (91) in his catalogue of Parthian coins. This is a reasonably nice specimen of the type, and at $80 was not particularly expensive. I hope you've enjoyed this coin, and the many other coins I've posted during the year. Right now it's looking like my coin budget is going to be tight during 2018, so I won't have as many new toys to show off, but I will try to get around to photographing some of the coins already in my collection that I haven't shown here yet. They'll be new to you, even if they're not recent purchases. Meanwhile, post your Indo-Parthians here, or whatever else seems related.
Thanks for posting that, your coins are always a treat to see and admire. I really like the coinage from the Sasanian/Parthian/Kushans/Hunnic peoples.
