Among the coins that followed me home from the Virginia Numismatic Association show yesterday were two Parthian drachms. The are in many ways similar but also very different. The Mithradates II has exceptional eye appeal. I bought it even though I had a similar coin of that ruler. I like the style of most coins from the early Parthian kings but the new Mithradates II just speaks to me. Certainly a lot of the appeal is the toning in the recesses. Notice the splayed toes on the archer and the clothing details on both sides. I even like the accidental collision of the northbound sigma and eastbound mu in the upper left corner of the reverse. The beard is a bit shorter than some for this king. I will have to do a bit more research before I am comfortable making a mint assignment but I suppose it is the standard Ecbatana. Unlike the Mithradates II, my new Gotarzes I was a bargain bin item. Also toned (I like toned) it has much less eye appeal, a much poorer strike and irregular surfaces that explain why it was less than 1/3 the price of the other coin. I did not have a Gotarzes I drachm and was pleased to find this one retained enough detail to allow it to be cataloged in Sellwood to the Rhagae mint #33.4 with distinctively shaped tiara decorations that I will call 'rabbits' as opposed to the other choice which I'll call 'ducks'. My ID here is from both Sellwood and Shore but I see that some are now saying this coin is Sinatruces. I will require more investigation before accepting that move. Parthian coins are not always identified with certainty and there are even a couple periods filled with an 'Unknown King'. That confusion in history is what you deserve when you all write your name as Arsakes (founder of the dynasty).
Super additions, Doug!! I keep adding these types to my want list, but for whatever reason (probably lack of knowledge), these coins never seem to make it to the final selection process?!! => however, I usually absolutely love the portraits, for they often seem to be somewhat animated, almost charactertures of the rulers, know what I mean? ... very cool coins (I'm sure one or more of these fine types will eventually end-up in my clutches!!)
Beautiful coins, Doug. Kudos! The connect-the-dots technique of engraving letters is so prominent on the first that it's almost a caricature of itself.
Great acquisitions, Doug. The Mithra, which is gorgeous, looks to be a Sellwood 24.10/Shore 70. Yep, mint would be Ecbatana for that one. The reattribution of Gotarzes to Sinatruces was, as you probably know, posited by Dr. G.R.F. Assar some years back. (Sellwood actually had these attributed to Sinatruces in the first edition of his book; he revised it to Gotarzes in the 1980 edition...many collectors/dealers have recently returned to Sellwood's original attribution for the type 33's) For my own collection I still mostly keep to Sellwood's 1980 attributions. I too was lucky enough to add a nice Parthian to my collection this week, a Vologases IV tetradrachm: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-102420
How would your collecting of Romans be different if all the rulers just called themselves Augustus without sticking in that Nero or Nerva? Some would be no problem to identify but we might not even know Marius or Procopius even existed. I like these month dated coins.
Nice pickups Doug. I have noticed more parthians on the market lately. Remember a coupld of years back? Almost none to be found, and now its early Sassanid thats tough to find. They just go in streaks.
