Parthian Kingdom. Margiana or Aria. AE drachm. Vardanes I (?)(c.40-45 AD). Obverse: Bust left, short beard curved on back side, before face star and crescent (?). Reverse: Archer seated right, below bow mintmark (resembles pi), uncertain two-line legend behind. Cf. Sellwood 64.37, Koch Group 5. This coin: Frank S. Robinson Auction 112, lot 130 (2020) (sold as "Sanabares"). Vardanes I and Gotarzes II were brothers from different mothers, though both were legitimate offspring of their father Artabanos II (or IV, by the most recent research). Artabanos died in 38 AD. Details of the succession are unclear, but it appears Gotarzes may have taken the throne briefly, only to be overthrown. Gotarzes tried to reclaim the throne, aided by Dahae and Hyrkaneian nomads, but the brothers were temporarily reconciled and agreed that Vardanes could retain the throne, while Gotarzes withdrew to Hyrkaneia (a region southeast of the Caspian Sea). Vardanes went on to crush a rebellion in Seleukia (which is its own fascinating story for another time). History records that Gotarzes eventually rebelled, and the rebels were defeated by Vardanes, but Vardanes was then assassinated during a hunting party, leaving Gotarzes to claim the throne in 45. However, dates on the tetradrachms (which bore month as well as year) seem to indicate that both kings issued coins at the same time from Seleukia-on-the-Tigris for a period of over a year, starting in January of 44. Perhaps the two kings shared the throne for a while, and this was left out of the official histories? At any rate, Vardanes exits both the historical and numismatic record in 45, leaving Gotarzes II sole occupant of the throne. This coin was sold as a coin of Sanabares, a rebel who issued coinage from the easternmost part of the Parthian realms around the mid-1st century AD, and may have set up a local dynasty. Indeed, this piece is clearly related to the Sanabares coinage, but my research has convinced me that it is in fact from slightly earlier. There is a series of crude bronze drachms issued by several Parthian kings in the easternmost regions (mostly Margiana) which are described in some detail in Heidemarie Koch's "A Hoard of Coins from Eastern Parthia", and which pop up intermittently in Sellwood's catalogue if you look carefully. When I saw this coin, the details of this portrait (especially the distinctive short beard with the rear part rounded off) immediately made me suspect it was a coin of Vardanes I. While there are a few details that seem to differ from the published type, I believe it is indeed an AE drachm of Vardanes I from the eastern regions. Koch and Sellwood both describe a crescent and a star (formed of six dots) in front of the face. There is clearly something in front of the face on my coin, though it is not clear due to wear and the edge of the coin. The mintmark below the archer's bow is given in Koch as pi above lambda. While there is a clear pi-shape under the bow on my piece, there is nothing immediately beneath it except the archer's leg, though there seems to be something potentially lambda-shaped to the bottom left of the pi, which is unfortunately off the flan. Koch describes the legend on the reverse as "illegible", and all the specimens shown have the legend behind the archer off the flan; Sellwood simply states "legend ?". On my specimen there are clearly two lines of legend behind the archer, which unfortunately I can't make any sense of. Sellwood gives the mint as Aria, while Koch states "Margiana (or Aria?)". Therefore, I believe my piece should be classified as a coin of Vardanes I, struck in Margiana or Aria, possibly an unpublished variant. I think this reinforce the idea that you should always check the attribution of the coins you buy, even when they are from reputable and knowledgeable sellers. Frank Robinson has decades of experience, and knows a lot about Parthian coins, but even he doesn't have time to track down every obscure coin variety. I always try to check the attribution of every coin I buy, even when it comes fully attributed, as even the best sellers can make mistakes. Please post whatever is related.
For the most part, I agree with your analysis. But this coin is slightly different from the drachms usually given as S.64.37 (Obverse, legend, monogram...). It is interesting to compare it also with the coin of the wonderful collection of Schatz (visible on FAC), although the latter carries an N which certainly indicates Nisa. In all cases, the most likely is that they are Vardanes I coins. Bellow, the drachm Triton XIII, 732 ; then the coin of the Schatz Collection.
Thanks @Alwin for the comparison photos. I agree that my piece has some differences from S.64.37, but is nonetheless likely to be an issue of Vardanes I. I've had an interest in these bronze drachms from eastern Parthia for a while now, and I think the series could use a thorough review and analysis- there seems to be a fair bit of variety that isn't adequately described in the standard references. In that vein, do you know why Koch's monograph seems to mostly be ignored? Is there salient criticism of her work that I'm unaware of? I doubt this silence is due to writers not knowing of her work- it seems to be easy to find copies for sale, and it was published in 1990 so there's been enough time for her ideas to circulate.
I know nothing about these but have had this one for 30 years. If it fits this post poorly, I apologize.
Although always looking for books on Parthian coinage, I have never heard of that of Koch. A gap that I will have to fill quickly, if you give me the title of the book, and if we can find it.
@dougsmit : Yes, your coin is part of the Sanabares (or successors) series, unfortunately too worn for me to be able to narrow it down to subtype. I'll allow it. @Alwin : The book is: Heidemarie Koch, "A Hoard of Coins from Eastern Parthia" (ANS Numismatic Notes and Monographs 165), 1990. ISBN 0-89722-239-3. The book is an analysis of a hoard of 266 bronze coins, mainly Sanabares-type drachms, that is in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Also, after further consideration I think my coin more closely resembles Koch's Group 13 (represented by a single coin in the hoard, #248) than Group 5. The reverse of this coin is very poorly preserved, but the obverse more closely resembles my coin than Type 5 does. Interestingly, while Group 13 is attributed to Vardanes I, the mint location is given as Susa. The citation for this is given as G. Le Rider, "Suse sous les Seleucides et les Parthes, Mission de Susiane", Memoires de la delegation archeologique en Iran 38 (1965) which unfortunately I don't have. This little coin is sending me down a research rabbit hole (which I consider a good thing).
1- Sorry, my neurons were gone for the weekend, I have of course "A hoard of coins from eastern Parthia"! I forgot it, for lack of using it (I always have a lot of trouble with photos that are not very readable ...). Many thanks for reporting this work, I will take the time to look at it more carefully. 2 - Congratulations, your investigation has taken a giant step, you found the culprit! The effigy of your coin and that of type 13 of Koch are indeed very similar. For Susa Sellwood records two coins, S.64.35 and S.64.36. What is in front of the effigy of your coin (S.64.36) must therefore be a Delta. Below two exemples S.64.35 or S.64.36, it is very difficult to know which monograms are on the reverses (Agora 56, 50 and CNG 357, 186).
