I won this coin in Frank Robinson's most recent auction: Parthian Kingdom, Hekatompylos mint. AR obol (0.44 g, 10 mm). Mithradates I (c.168-132 BC). Obverse: Diademed long-bearded bust left, pellet border around. Reverse: Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, three-line Greek legend around "Basilews Megalou Arsakou" ("Of the Great King Arsakes"). Sellwood 11.5; unlisted in Shore or Sunrise. This specimen: Frank S. Robinson Auction 105, lot 87. Mithradates I (reigned c.168-132 BC) was one of the most powerful kings in the history of the Parthian Kingdom, greatly expanding his territory at the expense of his Bactrian and Seleucid neighbors. Early in his reign, he captured territory in Aria and Margiana from Eukratides I of Bactria. Turning west, around 148 or 147 BC he captured the important region of Media (including the city of Ecbatana) and moved on to capture Mesopotamia including the ancient city of Babylon. It was at Seleucia on the Tigris that Mithradates I struck the first Parthian tetradrachms. Parthian forces went on to conquer Elymais and Characene, both of which would maintain their own local kings and coinages while under Parthian rule. In 138 BC Mithradates captured the Seleucid king Demetrius II and kept him in (luxurious) captivity, hoping to eventually use him as a political pawn. Shortly afterward Mithradates I began growing ill, dying in 132 BC and passing the Parthian throne to his son Phraates II. He left behind a vast and powerful kingdom that stretched from the Euphrates to the Indus. Early coins of Mithradates I show him in traditional nomadic Parthian style, beardless and wearing a bashlyk (a distinctive hat with side flaps, worn by steppe nomads). His later coins, such as this obol, show a more Hellenistic portrait with diadem and long beard. Post your coins of Mithradates I, or other related coins.
Mithradates I AE15 Sellwood 12.24(b) 2.78g /bee, Ekbatana My drachm below is one that has recently been questioned as being Phriapatios or Mithradates I and one of the Sellwood 10 series (10.10?). My library does not include Sunrise which I assume is responsible for this change. My most unusual Mithradates I is this fourree drachm of the same general type (Sell.10.1?). Parthian fourrees are very rare. I suspect the coin was overstruck on a coin which was not known to be fourree. At 4.06g it is unlikely that it was a Roman denarius. I would enjoy hearing of any other Parthian fourrees.
Congrats on the pickup, Parthicus. I'll kick in two of my Mithradates I coins - a drachm (Sellwood 13.6 or 13.10) that is from the David Sellwood Collection, and a tet (Sellwood 13.2).
