A Parthian "Gotarzes II, AR Tetradrachm" was the auction listing. A quick glance at the coin, that didn't seem quite right, but I couldn't explain it, beard a bit short? Double loops at back of head? something else? The price was right, so I bid. I won the coin, paid, and promptly forgot about it as it made its way slowly through the mail. Gotarzes II ruled Parthia from AD 29(?) to 51. He and his brother Vardanes I battled for control after the death of their father. Vardanes was expelled at some point and eventually in AD 47 assassinated. Some Parthian factions supported by the Roman emperor Claudius, backed an alternative king, Meherdates, a royal family member who had been a hostage to Rome. In one of many recent changes to understanding of Parthian timelines and coins, Assar, in The Sunrise Collection, assigns this drachm to the usurper Meherdates (AD 49-50). Kings of Parthia, Meherdates (usurper), Circa AD 49-50, drachm, Ekbatana mint (3.5g; 20.1 mm) Obv: Helmeted bust facing with short beard wearing diadem with loops at both sides; helmet with ornamentation horns and ear flaps. Royal wart on forehead; at each side six-pointed stars; border of dots. Rev: Beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand bow, monogram below bow; somewhat blundered Greek legend. Ref: Sellwood 67.1, Shore 368 Here's an AE As of Roman Emperor Claudius given he played a least a minor role in inflaming or exploiting the divisions in Parthia. Claudius, AD 41-54, Æ As, Rome mint, Struck AD 42-43 Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR A[VG P M TR P IMP P P], emperor bare head left Rev: S C across field, Minerva, helmeted and draped, advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand, holding round shield in left Ref: RIC I 100 or 116 Meherdates surrendered to Gotarzes, who denounced him as a Roman pretender, cut off his ears, but let him live. Gotarzes however did not reign much longer, he was either murdered or died of illness in AD 51. Vonones II, the viceroy of Media, became king after Gotarzes II. The reign of Vonones II, however, was very brief before his son, Vologases I, became king. There are no coins of Vonones II, if Assar is correct in reassigning these coins to the usurper Meherdates. Having forgotten about the purchase after a long shipping delay, I was pleasantly surprised when the coin arrived. It didn't take long to recognize this as a coin of Vologases I - his first tetradrachm issued. Vologases I battled with the Rome (during the reign of Claudius) over control of Armenia, placing his younger brother Tiridates I on the throne in Armenia. Tacitus tells the story here (50.1). These coins have not only the date for the year, but also the month on the coin. Two online sources I can recommend on parthian coins: Livius.org seems to have kept up with latest changes from Assar and links nicely to early sources. Parthia.com is an excellent resource for information on Parthian coins, including reading dates. I am still not certain I've read the partial month correctly on this coin. Besides beard-length, loops on the back of his head, the other clue on this coin is the king facing left - compare this coin with the starting image from Sellwood of the similar coin from Gotarzes (65.5 with king sitting facing right). Kings of Parthia, Vologases I, Circa AD 51-78, BI Tetradrachm (29mm, 14.28g), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΥ 363 SE (August AD 52) Obv: Diademed bust left Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ, Vologases enthroned facing left, receiving diadem from Tyche standing facing right, holding scepter; year above; month in exergue ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΥ (August) Translation of the legend: Of the King of Kings Arsaces, Beneficient, Just, Illustrious, Philhellene. Ref: Sellwood 68.2; Shore 370 var. I do have a tetradrachm of Gotarzes II for comparison - note longer beard and king enthroned facing right, Nike facing left: Kings of Parthia, Gotarzes II, AD 40-51, AR Tetradrachm (14.63 gm). Seleukeia mint. Struck January 355 (AD 44) ΠΕΡΙΤΙΟΥ Obv: Diademed bust left Rev: Seated king right, receiving diadem from Tyche Ref: Sellwood 65.1 (January 44) (different month than the illustration that starts this post) Here is another coin relevant to the history above. Also, another coin that I think was misattributed, a tetradrachm that I purchased a couple of years ago as "Vologases I". However, from the style, no medallion on neck, prominent wart, and "ΕΝT" on the reverse, that this coin is more likely Vardanes I, brother and rival of Gotarzes II. I am hoping to confirm or correct my view with CT experts. This is part of the puzzle of Parthian coins, along with keeping up with the many changes in kings names and order as recent research has added new information and reinterpreted information. The weight at 15.12g of this coin is also nice in hand. Kings of Parthia, Vardanes I, circa AD 38-46, AR Tetradrachm, Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated 355 SE (AD 43/4) Obv: Diademed bust left Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ - ΑΡΣΑΚΟY / ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY - ΔΙΚΑΙΟY - ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYΣ / ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ, Vardanes seated facing right, receiving palm from Tyche standing facing left, holding cornucopia; ENT (year) above [month unknown as it is off-flan and would be below ΔΙΚΑΙΟY in exergue] Ref: Sellwood 64.20-27 I find the Parthian tetradrachms not only appealing for their puzzle in attributing but also for their window into the art and history of this great eastern empire and rival to Rome. Corrections, additions, and comments are always appreciated. Post your Parthian tetradrachms, misattribution examples or anything you find interesting or entertaining.
Wow, cool write-up... great history, and nice coins, @Sulla80 ! LOL, you put an "evil" and sinister (yes, LEFT) looking Claudius in the mix... stirring up troubles. For some reason, I always liked that Emperor. Awesome Meherdates coin... different from most Parthians. "Meherdates surrendered to Gotarzes, who denounced him as a Roman pretender, cut off his ears, but let him live. Gotarzes however did not reign much longer, he was either murdered or died of illness in AD 51" What happened to Meherdates after his ears were bobbed, and then his brother died??? PARTHIA Orodes II 57-37BC AR Drachm 18mm 3.3g - Crassus gold - Ekbatana mint stars crsnt Arsakes on throne bow anchor Sellwd48.9 Parthia Mithradates III 58-55 BCE AR Drachm 3.9g 20mm Rhagae mint star archer bashlyk throne bow Selwood 41-12 Parthia 177-138 BCE AR Drachm Diademed draped Mithradates I left bashlik - archer seated on omphalos Sellwood 10.1
Nice Parthians! to your question on Meherdates: he drifted into historical oblivion, is the only answer I have. Here's what Tacitus had to say about him, betrayed by Parraces: "Meherdates now listened to the promises of his father's vassal Parraces, and, by an act of perfidy on his part, was thrown into chains and surrendered to the victor (Gotarzes II); who, upbraiding him as no relative of his, nor a member of the Arsacian house, but an alien and a Roman, struck off his ears and commanded him to live — an advertisement of his own mercy and of our dishonour." - Tacitus, Annals, XII.14 I don't know more about where he or his descendents may have gone from there.
These are very attractive coins - the tetradrachms. I have a few, these two are both from the Anne van 't Haaff collection, I bought them when he still was alive and on Ebay. Here's Gotarzes II: Gotarzes II (40-51). AR tetradrachm. Obv. Bust to the left, long beard. Rev. King enthroned to the right, Tyche holding diadem & cornucopia. Date HNT (358) ΠANHMOV (Panèmou = June) = 48 AD. Sellwood 65.1. 28 mm, 14.65 gr. And this is Vardanes II: Vardanes II (55-58). AR tetradrachm. Obv. Bust to the left, short beard. Rev. King enthroned to the right, Tyche holding diadem & cornucopia. Date ZXT (367, cannot read month) = 57 AD. Sellwood 69.5. 27,5 mm, 13.86 gr.
If I had to post all of my Parthian coins that were misattributed by sellers, I would blow up the forum! MEHERDATES, Drachm S.67.1 v. - Ecbatane 3.70 g - 22.5 mm I'll let you guess why this drachm is very rare (I only know 3 specimens)
Let’s not forget about Alwin’s site, which is a definite go-to for info about the series. Pellets rather than loops! My favorite misattribution...not my coin, unfortunately: Rather than being a fairly common Sellwood 78 (Vologases III/Pacorus I) as indicated by the label, it is actually the much rarer - and considerably more valuable - Sellwood 83 (Unknown King). A cautionary tale for those who may assume encapsulated coins are always properly identified.
Thanks! I took some time to browse and the photos, bibliography and well organized information are wonderful - will visit more often.
There is enough confusion on these that the safe answer is to call them all Arsakes. I am not all that convinced that all the new attributions are valid so the easy answer is to attribute the coins to Sellwood numbers and make notes where the names don't match up. I only have four tetradrachms and prefer the drachms and bronzes which are every bit as confusing. My first Parthian coin of any type came to me in 1987 as Sellwood 30.2 which I have never updated. Condition does not help. Phraates IV - The H of the year date 288 is off flan at the left but, as I understand it, that is the only reading with Daiciov (May) month. Sellwood 52.3. I regret that coins with the month on flan have to lose so much of the other legends. Vardanes I June 43AD (DKT Pannpov) Vologases IV year 464 (Novenber 152AD) Sellwood 84.13
Here is one that i purchased back a couple months ago....this one was listed as Orodes II but it is, in fact, a coin of his brother, Mithradates III (Sellwood 40.5) or now known currently as Mithradates IV (Sunrise 351). I run into misattributions often, which makes it more fun for me as a collector to search for which attribution is correct. Indeed, sometimes the re labeling of the kings can get confusing...I normally list them by Sellwood # first then usually by Sunrise # second for cataloging purposes.
When I talk about coins misattributed by sellers, I am not talking about the name they assign, as indeed many of these names can be discussed. I am talking about the Sellwood numbers errors, which are extremely common with sellers. Your tetradrachm of Vardanes I: ΔΝT ΠANHMO(Y) = S.64.16
I stopped listing my parthian coins according to any kind of king's attribution, still use Sellwood's classification, but to me honest, I have pushed Alwin (aka Al the Great) to set up his own listing on Parthika.fr for years. Sadly Al remains deaf to my suggestions
