Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3042 17-18 Sep 2015
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PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Phraataces and Musa (2 BC-AD 4). AR drachm (20mm, 3.34 gm, 12h). Ecbatana mint. Draped and diademed bust of Phraataces left, wearing spiral torques; Nikes to either side bearing wreaths / ΘΕΑΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΙΑΣ ΜΟΥΣΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ, draped and crowned portrait bust of Queen Musa left, monogram below chin. Sunrise 404. Sellwood 58.9. Shore 324. Rare. NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5. Musa was a beautiful slave girl presented by Caesar Augustus to King Phraates IV in exchange for the Parthians returning the Roman standards lost at Carrhae. She quickly became Phraates' favorite wife and, after bearing a son to him, she arranged for his murder and the succession of their son, Phraataces. Following Magian custom, she married her own son and ruled for several years as the power behind the throne. But having a female ruler, and a foreigner at that, proved unacceptable to the Parthian aristocracy and in AD 4 Musa and her son were overthrown and replaced by Orodes III.
Estimate: 1400-1800 USD
PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Phraataces and Musa (2 BC-AD 4). AR drachm (20mm, 3.34 gm, 12h). Ecbatana mint. Draped and diademed bust of Phraataces left, wearing spiral torques; Nikes to either side bearing wreaths / ΘΕΑΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΙΑΣ ΜΟΥΣΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ, draped and crowned portrait bust of Queen Musa left, monogram below chin. Sunrise 404. Sellwood 58.9. Shore 324. Rare. NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5. Musa was a beautiful slave girl presented by Caesar Augustus to King Phraates IV in exchange for the Parthians returning the Roman standards lost at Carrhae. She quickly became Phraates' favorite wife and, after bearing a son to him, she arranged for his murder and the succession of their son, Phraataces. Following Magian custom, she married her own son and ruled for several years as the power behind the throne. But having a female ruler, and a foreigner at that, proved unacceptable to the Parthian aristocracy and in AD 4 Musa and her son were overthrown and replaced by Orodes III.
Estimate: 1400-1800 USD