Here's my first coin of the year. (I actually ordered it in December, but due to the holidays and international shipping it didn't arrive until today.) Parthian Kingdom. AR drachm. Vologases VI (208- c.228 AD). Obverse: Bearded bust of king left, in tiara with diadem and earflaps; behind head, Aramaic letters WL for "Walagash" (Vologases). Reverse: Highly schematized seated archer, surrounded by degraded pseudo-Greek legend; top line of legend is replaced by Aramaic WLGShY MLK (Walagash Malik, "Vologases King") Sellwood 88.18, Shore 455. Vologases VI ascended the Parthian throne in 208 AD. He was soon challenged by his brother Artabanus (Artabanos IV in older sources, though the most recent scholarship has renumbered him as Artabanos V). Artabanos was able to capture most of the Parthian territory, including Iran and farther east, while Vologases retained a foothold in the wealthy region of Babylonia. The vassal king Ardashir V of Persis rebelled against Artabanos, gained allies from other vassals, and was able to overthrow Artabanos and declare himself Ardashir I of the new Sasanian Kingdom in 224 AD. Unfortunately history does not record exactly when Vologases VI died- the usual date of 228 AD is based on a single tetradrachm, whose date may be a celator's mistake (the last dated tetradrachm before this is from 224). It is not even certain if Vologases died in battle, was captured, or abandoned the throne to slip away to quiet exile. Rather a sad end to a brilliant dynasty. Of note, both Vologases and his brother Artabanos actually spelled out their names on their drachms, being among very few Parthian kings to do so. The fact that they did so in Aramaic rather than Greek may tell us something of their attitudes towards Hellenistic culture. The coin was purchased from the Vcoins dealer Sphinx Numismatics (Youssef Mishriki) in December 2016.
That is a very interesting illustration style. Very simple and graphic! I just had the crazy thought that it would make a great design for a neon sign.
Vologases IV is high on my list for this year. Those Parthian coins are so addicting. One can never have too many. Beautiful addition @Parthicus
Well, not as spectacular? I beg to disagree. I don't know why people tend to like the earlier Parthian coins like this: But tend to look down on these later beauties: Maybe there is something wrong with me, but I prefer the cruder coinage from the last two centuries of the Parthian Empire over their earlier life-like stuff. If I want realism, I can always get Greek or Roman coins...but no one does crude coins with as much style and sexiness as the Parthians.
oh yeah, that is cool....i was trying to figure out what was behind the head...didn't know they had "initials" on the obverse. here's my parthian with a "pincushion hat"... Parthian Kingdom. Vologases IV. A.D. 147-191. Silver Drachm O: Bust left with long, tapering and square cut beard, wearing double banded diadem with double loop, and tiara with earflaps, decorated with "hooks" on crest, ear and earring visible, spiral torque, dotted border. R: Archer enthroned right, pellet above arm, monogram below bow, single line Aramaic (top) , followed by a six-line stylised "Greek" inscription. Ecbatana .mint. 3.5 g, 19 mm. Sellwood type 84.128, ex. Tom Buggey.
I see absolutely no reason not to collect all periods of Parthians. Some say they don't like all those archers on the reverse but I can deal with it. I do not see these as boringly alike. I like them all. Mithradates I 171-138 BC Mithradates II 123-88 BC Orodes II 57-38 BC Phraatakes 2BC-4AD Artabanos II 80-90 AD Pakorus II 78-105 AD Mithradates IV 140 AD Vologases VI 208-228 AD
And if you are bored with archers, you could always try and get a silver tetradrachm (in this case, Gotarzes II, with at the reverse the King enthroned to the right, with Tyche giving him a diadem; dated PANHMOV (11th month) of the year HNT (358, = 48 AD).
And if you are short of money and blessed with a bit of luck, you may buy one of those interesting little Parthian bronzes, like this one of king Osroes II (about 190 AD), at the reverse a large-horned ram galloping.
Doug's layout throughout the history is pretty dang cool because you can see how styles or tastes or skills changed.
I have only a couple modest examples, since I really do not focus in Parthia... Parthia Mithradates 1 177-138 BCE AR Drachm Parthia Mithradates III 58-55 BCE AR Drachm 3.9g 20mm Rhagae mint star archer bashlyk throne bow Selwood 41-12
Although I don't have a lot of them, I actually like parthian coins. And Vologese VI often offers very strong strikes Q
