289
Artabanus II (127-126 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 15.99g, 1h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed
and long bearded bust right, reel-and-pellet border. Rev. Demeter enthroned left, holding Nike in
outstretched right hand, cornucopia in left hand, two-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, letter Θ
in field left, date
ΖΠΡ
(187 SEM = autumn 126 BC – autumn 125 BC) in exergue (S 18.1 var, Inter-regnal
issue, dated variety with controller’s mark; Sunrise 274). Good fine/about very fine.
Extremely rare, one
of only six known examples.
$ 2,800
Justin (42.2.1) intimates that the successor of Phraates II was his paternal uncle, Artabanus. He went to war with the Tocharian
nomads and lost his life after a poisoned arrow wounded him in the arm. According to Sellwood, the S 18 output was issued during
an inter-regnum in Parthia when the mint authorities in Seleucia, “unsure of the political outcome, temporised by using a fictitious
portrait of the recently dead king (Mithradates I)”. However, a small number of cuneiform fragments register a “King Arsaces” at
Babylon during March – July 126 BC who could have minted the undated S 18.1 Tetradrachms, corresponding to Year 186 SEM
(autumn 127 BC to autumn 126 BC). This Arsacid prince was previously identified with Bagāyāsh/Bagasis, brother of Mithradates I
and his appointed governor of Media Magna and Atropatene in 148 BC. However, further studies have revealed that Bagasis never
ascended the Parthian throne as king and died shortly before the demise of Phraates II about autumn 127 BC. Hence the attribution
of the S18.1 (undated) and S 18.1 var (dated 187 SEM) Tetradrachms to Artabanus (II) who succeeded Phraates II in late 127 BC -
early 126 BC. On the historical significance of this issue see: Assar G.R.F., “Recent Studies in Parthian History: Part II”, The Celator.
Journal of Ancient and Medieval Coinage 15.1 (2001), 17-27 and 41 (attributed to Bagasis); Assar G.R.F. “Recent Studies in Parthian
History: Part III”, The Celator. Journal of Ancient and Medieval Coinage 15.2 (2001), 17-22 (attributed to Bagasis); Assar G.R.F., “A
Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 165-91 B.C.”, Electrum 11 (2006), 87-158 (at 114-116, attributed to Bagasis).
290 291
290
Artabanus III (126-122 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.02g, 1h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed
and medium bearded bust right, wearing spiral torque, reel-and-pellet border. Rev. Demeter enthroned left,
holding Nike in outstretched right hand, cornucopia in left hand, monogram in field left, ΘE before Demeter,
two-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, date
HΠP
(188 SEM= 125/4 BC) in exergue (S 21.3 (Artabanus I);
Sunrise 276-277). About very fine, well centred designs.
Rare
.
$ 2,500
291
Arsaces X (122-121 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 15.97g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed and
lightly bearded bust right, wearing spiral torque, reel-and-pellet border. Rev. Demeter enthroned left, holding
Nike in outstretched right hand, cornucopia in left hand, composite monogram and
TY
in exergue, four-line
inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟY ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ
(S 23.2 (Mithradates II); Sunrise 280).
Good fine, areas of soft striking on both sides.
Very
rare
.
$ 2,800
Like his father Artabanus II before him, Artabanus III lost his life in fighting the Scythian marauders (the Guti of the late Babylonian
cuneiform sources). He was, according to a reference in the historical section of an astronomical diary from 119 BC, the brother
of Mithradates II. The same cuneiform source confirms that Artabanus III died in battle against the Guti and that Mithradates II
successfully liquidated the nomad threat in the winter of 119 BC with a great slaughter. Given that Mithradates II appears fully
bearded on his earliest coinage, the S 23.3 silver Drachms (see lot 354) and S 23.4 bronzes dated 191 SEM = autumn 122 BC
– autumn 121 BC, it is possible that the S 23.1-2 Tetradrachms, showing on their obverse the portrait of a juvenile prince, were minted
by a son of Artabanus III. He succeeded his father in late 122 BC and disappeared soon afterwards in unknown circumstances about
spring 121 BC. On the attribution to Arsaces X of this output see: Assar G.R.F., “A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 165-
91 B.C.”, Electrum 11 (2006), 87-158 (at 129-140).
