Baldwin & Sons
Auction 100 27 September 2016
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ANCIENT COINS, THE DAVID SELLWOOD COLLECTION OF PARTHIAN COINS (PART FOUR), Artabanus II (127-126 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, minted at Seleucia on the Tigris, diademed and long bearded bust right, reel-and-pellet border, rev Demeter enthroned left, holding wreath carrying Nike and cornucopia in right and left hands respectively, two line inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΣΑΚΟY, letter Θ in field left, year ΖΠΡ = 187 SEM (126/5 BC) in exergue, 15.99g, 1h (S 18.1 var, Inter-regnal issue, dated variety with controller's mark). Good fine / about very fine and extremely rare, one of only six known examples.
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 soon after a poisoned arrow wounded him in the arm. According to Sellwood, the S18 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 fragmentary cuneiform records register a "King Arsaces" at Babylon during March - July 126 BC who minted the undated S18.1 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 to Artabanus (II) of the S18.1 (undated) and S18.1var. (dated 187 SEM) Tetradrachms who, according to Justin (42.2.1), 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).
Estimate: £400-600
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 soon after a poisoned arrow wounded him in the arm. According to Sellwood, the S18 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 fragmentary cuneiform records register a "King Arsaces" at Babylon during March - July 126 BC who minted the undated S18.1 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 to Artabanus (II) of the S18.1 (undated) and S18.1var. (dated 187 SEM) Tetradrachms who, according to Justin (42.2.1), 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).
Estimate: £400-600