Despite about a quarter century of collecting, prior to this summer I had never snagged a plate coin. Somehow lately they seem to be just falling in my lap. Weird. These five pick-up’s are from the past three months. The first is Parthian, the others are from Elymais. Three of the Elymaeans were purchased directly from Pieter Anne van’t Haaff, author of the “Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage” and are from his personal collection. From the Sylloge Nummorum Parthicorum, Volume 7, Vologases I - Pacorus II (plate 50, #841A) Artabanos III AR tetradrachm c. 80 – 90 AD (struck May, 81 AD) 29 mm., 13.29 gm. Seleukeia on the Tigris mint Obv: Diademed bust left Rev: Artabanos seated left, receiving open diadem from Tyche standing right, holding scepter; year above, month in exergue Sellwood 74.5 var., Sunrise 441 var. (Artabanos V), SNP7: 841A (this coin) From the “Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage” by P.A. van’t Haaff (14.7.1-1B.a, page 127) Phraates AE tetradrachm Early to mid 2nd century AD 25 x 27 mm., 14.46 gm. Obv: Bust to left in tiara with star in crescent; two line legend in left field; two crossbars on anchor Rev: Revegenerated dashes Van’t Haaff 14.7.1-1B.a (this coin) Ex-van’t Haaff Collection From the “Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage” by P.A. van’t Haaff (17.1.1-2a, page 140) Orodes IV AE drachm Second half of 2nd Century AD 12 mm., 2.60 gm. Obv: Bust left, hair tuft at top and at back, anchor in left field Rev: Female bust to left, hair tuft falling at back right Van’t Haaff 17.1.1-2a (this coin) Ex-van’t Haaff Collection From the “Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage” by P.A. van’t Haaff (12.3.1-1B.e, page 101) Kamnaskires-Orodes AE drachm Early to mid 2nd Century AD 15 mm., 3.68 gm. Obv: Facing bust with large hair tufts at both sides, one crossbar on anchor, small symbol between bust and anchor Rev: Dashes Van’t Haaff 12.3.1-1B.e (this coin) Ex-van’t Haaff Collection From the “Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage” by P.A. van’t Haaff (type 8.2.3-1a, page 71) Kamnaskires IV AR obol c. 63/2 – 54/3 BC 8 mm., 0.59 gm. Uncertain mint Obv. Diademed male bust left, short beard, uncertain mintmark Rev: Belos or Zeus seated left on throne, holding a small Nike in outstretched right hand and scepter in left hand Van’t Haaff 8.2.3-1a (this coin)
awesome coins bob! that ae tet is neat, not the usual bust type for these is it? i've seen that bust style on drachms quite a bit, but not really tetradrachms. i've been posting my parthian coins quite a bit, here's one i haven't posted for a while..
Exactly right, Chris. The Phraates drachms with left-facing profile and tiara are fairly common, but the similar looking tets are very rare. Nice Kamnaskires-Orodes drachm you posted there!
