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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 4405530, member: 19463&quot;]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.&nbsp; The Pars auction of 20 April resulted in the USPS delivery of the three lots I won today (24 April).&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.&nbsp; The others were bids tacked on in the hope of diluting postal costs.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; One of these was with Parthia (who had supported Pescennius Niger).&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; All Parthian AE are at least scarce and unpopular due to their crude ugliness (that is being nice about 90% of them).&nbsp; This 1g piece of metal is not going to win any beauty contest unless the entrants are limited to AE of this king.&nbsp; 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).&nbsp; It shows a side view of one of the hair balls distinctive to this king.&nbsp; The reverse is a right facing head cataloged as Tyche closest to Sellwood 87.27.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; I would have said Athena but I am no expert in these and over impressed by what I imagine to be a helmet crest.&nbsp; I would appreciate links to any similar coins anyone may have.&nbsp; 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. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1106847[/ATTACH] </p><p>I told you that Parthian bronzes are an acquired taste. </p><p><br /></p><p>The other two wins are Sasanian AR drachms from kings I did not have.&nbsp; While high grade in a sense, these were among the cheapest of those offered in this sale.&nbsp; There were a number of coins of these two kings; all were brightly cleaned now hoard material I would guess.&nbsp; I am starting to work on more specific ID&#039;s but it is hard considering the lack of a good book on the subject (I have Sunrise, Curtis, Gobl and Mitchiner).&nbsp; I also use Tom Mallon&#039;s website.&nbsp; If there something better? </p><p><br /></p><p>First is Yazdgard I, 399-420 AD.&nbsp; I have not yet found a match but the coins only came today.&nbsp; Maybe I&#039;ll get lucky and one of you will point me in the right direction.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1106849[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The other is Varhran V (Bahram to some), 420-438 AD.&nbsp; This seems to read ART for the mintmark reverse right and this was as it was listed by the seller.&nbsp; I see some similar coins in my references but exact matches in Sasanian coins are not always easy to find.&nbsp; They had a lot of mints and some kings ruled for many years giving us many possibilities.&nbsp; Again I would appreciate clues from those who have one. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1106850[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Pile on with what you won from this Pars/VAuction sale or coins of any of these three kings.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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