Continuing with my last few threads of acquiring some new ancients in a consecutive fashion after a long dry spell. One of my favorite side collections the past few years has been Parthians and my newest Parthian is a Tetradrachm of Vologases I. The reverse has an interesting die shift. I also included an image of my Vologases I Drachm that was from @randygeki from Secret Santa years ago that started this side collection. Vologases I (51 - 88 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm O: Bare-headed bust facing, head left with pointed beard; beaded border. R: [ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ] ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Ν ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ] ΕΥΕΡΓΕ[ΤΟΥ] ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟ[ΥΣ ΦΙΛΕ]ΛΛΗΝ[ΟΣ]; date GXT (51/2 A.D.)between heads. Seleucia Mint Shore 370 Sellwood 68.4-8 Vologases I (51 - 78 A.D.) AR Drachm O: Diademed bust left. R: OΛCIΛEΛC OΛCIΛEΛN ΛIIΛI ΛIXVΛ EΠIΦΛHO ΦIΛEΛΛ, Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Ekbatana mint 3.71g 21mm Sellwood 70.13
Congrats, Mat. Always nice to own two coins, of different denominations, from the same Parthian ruler. "The reverse has an interesting die shift." Indeed, unless the king is just chillin', leaning really far back and relaxing on that throne. If so, he's being pretty disrespectful to Tyche, when you think about it.
Nice one! I love tertradrachms because the designs are easier to see and appreciate the artistic designs. They are also nice and hefty and feel like a significant amount of money. Which they were at the time. There is a story about a lady in the Bible whose entire life savings is 10 drachmae and she loses one and spends all day looking for it until she finds it and goes around telling all her neighbors to rejoice at her finding her drachm. Imagine if she lost a tetradrachm. . Almost half of a poor person’s entire life‘s savings.
