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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bob L., post: 2634278, member: 56976&quot;]Within my Parthian collection I have a growing subset of Parthian tiara-type tetradrachms.&nbsp; I’ve posted these at Coin Community Family, and figured I’d share them here too.</p><p><br /></p><p>I know there is a certain type of ancients collector who appreciates nuanced differences within sets of very similar looking coins.&nbsp; Apparently I must be of that ilk. </p><p><br /></p><p>The coins below range from late 1st century through mid-2nd century AD.&nbsp; The standardized form for the type is readily apparent: obverses with bearded king’s bust left, wearing a decorated Parthian tiara, monogram in the right field.&nbsp; Reverses were also standardized: king enthroned left, receiving the royal diadem from Tyche, with legend around.&nbsp; Years, designated in Greek letters and based on the Seleucid Era, were engraved above the reverse diadem, and months were in exergue.&nbsp; Given the tight flans that were typical for these coins, months are often partially or completely cut off.&nbsp; Here’s a typical reverse of one of my coins from this subset:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]580145[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I know that many collectors would look at a grouping like the one below and wonder: why bother?&nbsp; Seen one, seen them all.&nbsp; And, believe me, I’ve wondered that myself!&nbsp; But, upon reflection, I think the reason these appeal to me – and that I continue to hunt for them – is that, for me, these are perhaps the quintessential Parthian types...when I think of the term “Parthian coin” this is what comes to mind before any other types – even before some of the common drachm types.</p><p><br /></p><p>It probably seems redundant to collect so many of these when the variations – mint monograms and years and such – are so subtle.&nbsp; What can I say? It doesn’t make much sense, but I enjoy them – even when they’re in rough shape, and despite the fact that they look so similar to one another.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’m opting to just show obverses below…there is enough redundancy here without also including the reverses.</p><p><br /></p><p>The top two, starting below, are Vologases II (based on Sellwood, that is; the Sylloge Nummorum Parthicorum reattributes these Volo I), the left one struck in December 78 AD, the right one a bit earlier in 77 AD.&nbsp; In the second row the upper left coin is Pakoros II, 78 – 105 AD.&nbsp; All of the remaining ones after that are Vologases III, 105 – 147 AD.&nbsp; I’m very happy to be able to say that eight of the Volo III’s used to be owned by David Sellwood.&nbsp; That makes them especially important to me.&nbsp; Thanks for looking!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]580149[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]580148[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]580150[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]580151[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]580152[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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