Baldwin & Sons
Auction 100 27 September 2016
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ANCIENT COINS, THE DAVID SELLWOOD COLLECTION OF PARTHIAN COINS (PART FOUR), Artabanus IV (c. AD 10-39/40), Silver Tetradrachms (2), minted at Seleucia on the Tigris, diademed and long bearded bust left, traces of flying Nike in front (mostly off the flan), ear and ear-ring visible, spiral torque, year ΔΛΤ = 334 SEM in front, rev King enthroned left, receiving palm from Tyche holding sceptre, between them, kneeling man (Jewish rebel Asinaeus) offering diadem, four line inscription ΒΑCΙΛΕΛC ΒΑCΙΛΕΛΝ ΑΡCΑΚΟY ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY, year ΔΛΤ divided by palm, month OΛΩIOY (Loios) = Aug./Sep. AD 23, (Artabanus II), 8.37g, 12h; month [Y]ΠEPBERE[TAIOY] (Hyperberetaios) = Oct./Nov. AD 23, 12.94g, 12h (S 62.3 var, 62.4). Good fine to about very fine, very rare. (2)
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, Asinaeus revolted from the Parthian satrap of Babylonia in AD 21/2 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. CNG, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and London, England (2011), 113-171 (at 137-140).
Estimate: £200-250
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, Asinaeus revolted from the Parthian satrap of Babylonia in AD 21/2 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. CNG, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and London, England (2011), 113-171 (at 137-140).
Estimate: £200-250