In all honesty I have not been all that thrilled with the customer service of VAuctions in recent years but that most certainly changed this week. The Pars auction of 20 April resulted in the USPS delivery of the three lots I won today (24 April). In these days of people not getting the coins purchased from big houses, it is great to see a small business doing what they can do to make my day brighter. I only bid of four lots probably because I considered the start prices over my interest level but I am happy to have what I won. I note that quite a few similar coins went unsold but I hope some others here on CT found something suitable in this sale and will be getting great service as well. The truth is that I would not have bid on anything in this sale were it not for one trashy little coin that no one but someone like me would want. The others were bids tacked on in the hope of diluting postal costs. Those who know me know that I am most interested in the coins of Septimius Severus during the period of the wars at the start of his reign. One of these was with Parthia (who had supported Pescennius Niger). The Parthian king at that time was Vologases V (191-208 AD) best known for his facing bust drachms long on my want list but never in my price range. The coins are not rare (check all shown online) but popular since the facing bust and wild hair of Vologases V stand out from the usual Parthian silver. All Parthian AE are at least scarce and unpopular due to their crude ugliness (that is being nice about 90% of them). This 1g piece of metal is not going to win any beauty contest unless the entrants are limited to AE of this king. I was attracted to the obverse portrait (unfortunately left facing but someone would have bid against me had it been one of the facing portraits). It shows a side view of one of the hair balls distinctive to this king. The reverse is a right facing head cataloged as Tyche closest to Sellwood 87.27. The seller did not describe the reverse which is probably the best answer but it is not a bird and Tyche is the only other cataloged choice. I would have said Athena but I am no expert in these and over impressed by what I imagine to be a helmet crest. I would appreciate links to any similar coins anyone may have. Similarly, I can not accept the denomination listed as dichalkous since the weight suggests it is more likely a chalkous unlisted in the references I checked. I told you that Parthian bronzes are an acquired taste. The other two wins are Sasanian AR drachms from kings I did not have. While high grade in a sense, these were among the cheapest of those offered in this sale. There were a number of coins of these two kings; all were brightly cleaned now hoard material I would guess. I am starting to work on more specific ID's but it is hard considering the lack of a good book on the subject (I have Sunrise, Curtis, Gobl and Mitchiner). I also use Tom Mallon's website. If there something better? First is Yazdgard I, 399-420 AD. I have not yet found a match but the coins only came today. Maybe I'll get lucky and one of you will point me in the right direction. The other is Varhran V (Bahram to some), 420-438 AD. This seems to read ART for the mintmark reverse right and this was as it was listed by the seller. I see some similar coins in my references but exact matches in Sasanian coins are not always easy to find. They had a lot of mints and some kings ruled for many years giving us many possibilities. Again I would appreciate clues from those who have one. Pile on with what you won from this Pars/VAuction sale or coins of any of these three kings.
I picked up these. Not ancients but they usually have a few things in my wheelhouse. This was a secondary purchase too, as you said, I was trying to dilute the shipping costs. I have to agree with you. The customer service this time was exceptional. I actually received my package on Thursday.
Although I don't have any coins from either of these two - your first one looks like Sunrise 917. Love the Parthian bronze chalkous or dichalkous.
I was favoring Curtis 206 for the Yazdgard since it has the two large crescents and caps with dots for the attendants. It is not a match since 206 has large dots under both crescents and a smaller crescent under the left dot. The big difference is the rendering of the attendants' bodies. Mine has some curve while Curtis 206 is very straight and narrow. Maybe someday it will come clear.
I didn't see anything that was within my price range but I'm glad you got some interesting coins @dougsmit. I particularly like that Yazdgard I.
Nice new additions. Pars always has a great selection of Parthian and Central Asian coins. None of my bids held up at this auction, so I’ll just post my favorite coin from Pars, which was a generous Secret Saturnalia gift last year (and which really needs a better photo). Mithradates III, Circa 87-78 B.C., AR Drachm, (20mm, 4.08g), diademed and draped bust left, wearing tiara with ear flap, long beard, and torque ending in pellet; 8-rated star on tiara; all within pelleted border/ Rev. Archer seated right on throne, holding bow Pars Coins, Auction 1 (2019 Secret Saturnalia gift)
