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<p>[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4673554, member: 99456"][ATTACH=full]1151224[/ATTACH] A Parthian "<b>Gotarzes II, <b>AR Tetradrachm</b></b>" 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.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Gotarzes II</b> ruled Parthia from AD 29(?) to 51. He and his brother <b>Vardanes I</b> 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 <a href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/pars_coins/121/product/numismatic_art_of_persia_the_sunrise_collection_part_i_ancient__650_bc_to_ad_650_2011_hardbound/207965/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/pars_coins/121/product/numismatic_art_of_persia_the_sunrise_collection_part_i_ancient__650_bc_to_ad_650_2011_hardbound/207965/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">The Sunrise Collection</a>, assigns this drachm to the usurper Meherdates (AD 49-50).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1151285[/ATTACH]</p><p><b><font size="3"><b>Kings of Parthia, Meherdates </b></font></b><font size="3">(usurper), Circa AD 49-50, drachm, Ekbatana mint (3.5g; 20.1 mm)</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Obv:</b> 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.</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Rev:</b> Beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand bow, monogram below bow; somewhat blundered Greek legend.</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Ref:</b> Sellwood 67.1, Shore 368</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Here's an AE As of Roman Emperor <b>Claudius</b> given he played a least a minor role in inflaming or exploiting the divisions in Parthia.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1151381[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Claudius</b>, AD 41-54, Æ As, Rome mint, Struck AD 42-43</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Obv:</b> TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR A[VG P M TR P IMP P P], emperor bare head left </font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Rev:</b> S C across field, Minerva, helmeted and draped, advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand, holding round shield in left</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Ref: </b>RIC I <a href="http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.100" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.100" rel="nofollow">100</a> or <a href="http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.116" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.116" rel="nofollow">116</a></font></p><p><br /></p><p>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,<b> Vologases I</b>, became king. There are no coins of Vonones II, if Assar is correct in reassigning these coins to the usurper Meherdates.</p><p><br /></p><p>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 <b>Vologases I</b> - his first tetradrachm issued.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Vologases I</b> 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 <a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/12B*.html#50" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/12B*.html#50" rel="nofollow">here</a> (50.1). These coins have not only the date for the year, but also the month on the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Two online sources I can recommend on parthian coins: <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/vologases-i/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/vologases-i/" rel="nofollow">Livius.org</a> seems to have kept up with latest changes from Assar and links nicely to early sources. <a href="http://www.parthia.com/vologases1.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.parthia.com/vologases1.htm" rel="nofollow">Parthia.com</a> is an excellent resource for information on Parthian coins, including <a href="http://www.parthia.com/parthia_calendar.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.parthia.com/parthia_calendar.htm" rel="nofollow">reading dates</a>. 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).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1151223[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Kings of Parthia, Vologases I</b>, Circa AD 51-78, BI Tetradrachm (29mm, 14.28g), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΥ 363 SE (August AD 52)</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Obv:</b> Diademed bust left</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Rev:</b> 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)</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Translation of the legend: </b>Of the King of Kings Arsaces, Beneficient, Just, Illustrious, Philhellene.</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Ref: </b>Sellwood 68.2; Shore 370 var.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>I do have a tetradrachm of <b>Gotarzes II</b> for comparison - note longer beard and king enthroned facing right, Nike facing left:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1151295[/ATTACH] <font size="3"><b>Kings of Parthia, Gotarzes II,</b> AD 40-51, AR Tetradrachm (14.63 gm). Seleukeia mint. Struck January 355 (AD 44) ΠΕΡΙΤΙΟΥ </font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Obv:</b> Diademed bust left</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Rev:</b> Seated king right, receiving diadem from Tyche</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Ref: </b>Sellwood 65.1 (January 44) (different month than the illustration that starts this post)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>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 <b>Vardanes I</b>, 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.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1151597[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3"><b>Kings of Parthia, Vardanes I</b>, circa AD 38-46, AR Tetradrachm, Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated 355 SE (AD 43/4)</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Obv: </b>Diademed bust left</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Rev:</b> 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]</font></p><p><font size="3"><b>Ref:</b> Sellwood 64.20-27 </font></p><p><br /></p><p>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. <b> Post your Parthian tetradrachms, misattribution examples or anything you find interesting or entertaining.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4673554, member: 99456"][ATTACH=full]1151224[/ATTACH] A Parthian "[B]Gotarzes II, [B]AR Tetradrachm[/B][/B]" 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. [B]Gotarzes II[/B] ruled Parthia from AD 29(?) to 51. He and his brother [B]Vardanes I[/B] 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 [URL='https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/pars_coins/121/product/numismatic_art_of_persia_the_sunrise_collection_part_i_ancient__650_bc_to_ad_650_2011_hardbound/207965/Default.aspx']The Sunrise Collection[/URL], assigns this drachm to the usurper Meherdates (AD 49-50). [ATTACH=full]1151285[/ATTACH] [B][SIZE=3][B]Kings of Parthia, Meherdates [/B][/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3](usurper), Circa AD 49-50, drachm, Ekbatana mint (3.5g; 20.1 mm) [B]Obv:[/B] 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. [B]Rev:[/B] Beardless archer, seated right on throne; in right hand bow, monogram below bow; somewhat blundered Greek legend. [B]Ref:[/B] Sellwood 67.1, Shore 368[/SIZE] Here's an AE As of Roman Emperor [B]Claudius[/B] given he played a least a minor role in inflaming or exploiting the divisions in Parthia. [ATTACH=full]1151381[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Claudius[/B], AD 41-54, Æ As, Rome mint, Struck AD 42-43 [B]Obv:[/B] TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR A[VG P M TR P IMP P P], emperor bare head left [B]Rev:[/B] S C across field, Minerva, helmeted and draped, advancing right, brandishing spear in right hand, holding round shield in left [B]Ref: [/B]RIC I [URL='http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.100']100[/URL] or [URL='http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cl.116']116[/URL][/SIZE] 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,[B] Vologases I[/B], 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 [B]Vologases I[/B] - his first tetradrachm issued. [B]Vologases I[/B] 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 [URL='http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/12B*.html#50']here[/URL] (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: [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/person/vologases-i/']Livius.org[/URL] seems to have kept up with latest changes from Assar and links nicely to early sources. [URL='http://www.parthia.com/vologases1.htm']Parthia.com[/URL] is an excellent resource for information on Parthian coins, including [URL='http://www.parthia.com/parthia_calendar.htm']reading dates[/URL]. 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). [ATTACH=full]1151223[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Kings of Parthia, Vologases I[/B], Circa AD 51-78, BI Tetradrachm (29mm, 14.28g), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΥ 363 SE (August AD 52) [B]Obv:[/B] Diademed bust left [B]Rev:[/B] 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) [B]Translation of the legend: [/B]Of the King of Kings Arsaces, Beneficient, Just, Illustrious, Philhellene. [B]Ref: [/B]Sellwood 68.2; Shore 370 var.[/SIZE] I do have a tetradrachm of [B]Gotarzes II[/B] for comparison - note longer beard and king enthroned facing right, Nike facing left: [ATTACH=full]1151295[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Kings of Parthia, Gotarzes II,[/B] AD 40-51, AR Tetradrachm (14.63 gm). Seleukeia mint. Struck January 355 (AD 44) ΠΕΡΙΤΙΟΥ [B]Obv:[/B] Diademed bust left [B]Rev:[/B] Seated king right, receiving diadem from Tyche [B]Ref: [/B]Sellwood 65.1 (January 44) (different month than the illustration that starts this post)[/SIZE] 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 [B]Vardanes I[/B], 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. [ATTACH=full]1151597[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3][B]Kings of Parthia, Vardanes I[/B], circa AD 38-46, AR Tetradrachm, Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, dated 355 SE (AD 43/4) [B]Obv: [/B]Diademed bust left [B]Rev:[/B] 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] [B]Ref:[/B] Sellwood 64.20-27 [/SIZE] 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. [B] Post your Parthian tetradrachms, misattribution examples or anything you find interesting or entertaining.[/B][/QUOTE]
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