333
Phriapatius (185-170 BC), Silver Drachms (2). Minted at Hekatompylos(?), about 170 BC. Diademed bust
left in bashlyk, wearing single turn torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer seated right on omphalos, three-line
inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘEΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, 3.54g, 12h. (S 10.15 (Mithradates I)). and Rev. Archer seated right
on omphalos, three-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, 4.13g, 12h. (S 10.1 (Mithradates I)).
Good fine to about very fine, common obverse die.
First extremely rare.
(2)
$ 2,200
A pair of numismatically and historically important early Parthian Drachms. Close inspections of these coins reveal that they are
struck from a single obverse die. However, presence of additional die flaws on the second piece, especially around the king’s shoulder,
confirms that the ΘEΟY variety (S10.15) is anterior. This implies that Phriapatius was the first Arsacid ruler to claim godship around
the end of his reign and before the adoption of the epithet ΜΕΓΑΛΟY, “the Great”.
On the attribution to Phriapatius of these two Drachms see: Assar G.R.F., “Genealogy and Coinage of the Early Parthian Rulers.
I”,
Parthica
6 (2004/5), 69-93 (at 81-82), and Assar G.R.F., “Genealogy and Coinage of the Early Parthian Rulers. II. A Revised
Stemma”,
Parthica
7 (2005/6), 29-63 (at 36-38).
334 335 336
334
Phriapatius (185-170 BC) through to Mithradates I (164-132 BC), Period 172-148 BC, Silver Drachm, 3.98g,
12h. Minted at Hekatompylos(?). Diademed bust left in bashlyk, wearing single turn torque, dotted border.
Rev. Archer seated right on omphalos, three-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
(S 10.1
(Mithradates I), Sunrise 254). Extremely fine.
$ 650
Numismatic evidence (see lot 333) shows that the third Arsacid ruler, Phriapatius, began to style himself “the Great” towards the
end of his reign. Given that his successors continued to employ this same epithet in their coin inscriptions, it is practically impossible
to ascertain the issuer of S10.1 drachms, showing the king wearing a diadem bound bashlyk on the obverse with no monogram on
the reverse.
335
Phraates I (168-164 BC) through to Mithradates I (164-132 BC), Period 165-148 BC, Silver Drachm, 3.83g,
12h. Diademed bust left in bashlyk, wearing single turn torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer seated right on
omphalos, three-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, monogram OP in exergue (S 10 var,
uncertain mint). About very fine.
Very
rare
.
$ 450
ex Fred B. Shore Collection:
Parthian Coins and History. Ten Dragons Against Rome
, Classical Numismatic Group, Quarryville,
Pennsylvania, 1993, p.91, no.16
ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 36, 5-6 December 1995, lot 16
In his above listed book on the coinage and history of Parthian, Shore assumes that the exergual monogram OP on this very rare
output represents the Seleucid date 170 (SEM), that is, 143/2 BC. He then suggests that concurrently with his later issues, Mithradates
I probably continued to coin the bashlyk type Drachms at some eastern mint cities of his empire. However, given that the final
beardless and bashlyk type Drachms from Ecbatana (see lot 338) were minted soon after Mithradates annexed the two satrapies of
Media Magna and Atropatene in late summer – early autumn 148 BC, reading OP as 170 SEM may be ruled out.
336
Phraates I (168-164 BC) through to Mithradates I (164-132 BC), Period 165-148 BC, Silver Drachm, 3.97g,
3h. Diademed bust left in bashlyk, wearing single turn torque, dotted border. Rev. Archer seated right
on omphalos, three-line inscription
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY
, letter I in field right, composite
monogram in exergue, uncertain mint (S 10.3 var (letter I in field right); Sunrise 255 var, no monogram in
field left). About very fine, well centred on both sides.
Very
rare
.
$ 1,900
