306 307
306
Orodes III (c. AD 6-8), Silver Tetradrachm, 14.53g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed bust left
with long and tapering bead, lock of hair on brow, short hair, ear and earring visible, wearing spiral torque.
Rev. King enthroned left, holding bow and sceptre, seven-line inscription
ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΒΑCΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡCΑΚΟY
ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY ΔΙΚΑΙΟY ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYC ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟC
, year date
ZIT
(317 SEM) vertically behind throne,
exergual month name (Dystros, Feb./Mar. AD 6) off the flan (S 59.1; Sunrise 405). About very fine.
Very
rare
.
$ 2,800
307
Vonones I (c. AD 8-12), Silver Tetradrachm, 13.48g, 12h. Overstruck on S 58.1-7 Tetradrachm of Phraataces
and Musa at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed bust left with long and square cut beard, short hair, ear and
earring visible, spiral torque, around,
BACIΛΕYC BACIΛEωΝ ΟΝωΝΗC
. Rev. Nike walking left, year date
BKT
(322 SEM) in front, seven-line inscription
ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΒΑCΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡCΑΚΟY ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY ΔΙΚΑΙΟY
ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYC ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟC
, month name
ΓOPΠΙAIOY
(Gorpiaios, Aug./Sep. AD 11) in exergue. (S 60.2;
Sunrise 406 var, different year and month). About very fine, well centred on both sides.
Rare
.
$ 2,800
308 309
308
Artabanus IV (c. AD 10-38), Silver Tetradrachm, 12.57g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed
and long bearded bust left, traces of flying Nike in front (mostly off the flan), ear and earring visible, spiral
torque, year date
ΔΛΤ
(334 SEM, AD 22/3) in front, dotted border. Rev. King enthroned left, receiving
palm from Tyche holding sceptre, between them, kneeling man offering diadem, four-line inscription
ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΒΑCΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡCΑΚΟY ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY
, year date
ΔΛΤ
divided by palm, month name mostly off the
flan (probably Artemisios?, May/June AD 23) (S 62.1(?); Sunrise 410). Good fine.
Very
rare
.
$ 2,200
The diminutive kneeling figure on the reverse of this issue is, most probably, the Jewish rebel, Asinaeus (not, as Sellwood has
suggested, Vonones I who had died before AD 20). Together with his brother, Anilaeus, he revolted from the Parthian satrap
of Babylonia in AD 21/22 with great slaughter. Artabanus IV intervened and after making overtures to Asinaeus and Anilaeus,
conferred on them the governorship of Babylonia. According to Josephus (Jewish Antiquities, 18.310-339), having summoned
the brothers to an audience, Artabanus “was astonished at Asinaeus’ courage in action when he observed that he was quite short
in outward appearance”. For further reading see: Assar G.R.F., “Iran Under the Arsacids, 247 BC – AD 224/227”, in B.R. Nelson
(ed.), Numismatic Art of Persia. The Sunrise Collection. Part I: Ancient -650 BC to AD 650. Classical Numismatic Group, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania and London, England (2011), 113-171 (at 137-140).
309
Artabanus IV (c. AD 10-38), Billon Tetradrachm, 9.74g, 12h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed
and medium bearded bust facing, wearing spiral torque, dotted border. Rev. King left on horseback, receiving
palm from Tyche, four-line inscription
ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΑΡCΑΚΟY ΔΙΚΑΙΟY ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟYC
, year date
TΛH
(338
SEM) divided by king’s head, month name Loios (July/Aug, AD 27) as monogram under horse (S 63.4;
Sunrise 411 var, different month). Good fine.
Very
rare
.
$ 2,200
