Baldwin & Sons
Auction 100 27 September 2016
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ANCIENT COINS, THE DAVID SELLWOOD COLLECTION OF PARTHIAN COINS (PART FOUR), Orodes I (80-75 BC), Silver Drachm, minted at Rhagae, short bearded bust left in diademed bound tiara, decorated with a row of pearls-on-stalk round the crest and a fleur-de-lys on side, pellet ended spiral torque, anchor behind head removed, rev archer enthroned right, six line inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟY ΑΡΣΑΚΟY ΕYΕΡΓΕΤΟY ΕΠIΦΑNOYΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ, 4.06g, 12h (S 34.4 var (Sinatruces)). Good fine, a very rare tiara type.
Sellwood suspected that the usual "anchor" symbol behind the king's head had been omitted from the original design of this rare coin. However, another example, struck from the same obverse die, has recently turned up, confirming the presence of an "anchor". This shows that the erasure from the coin of the symbol had been performed quite carefully. On the historical significance of this coin see: Assar G.R.F., "A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 91-55 BC", Parthica 8 (2006/7), 55-104 (at 77).
Estimate: £200-250
Sellwood suspected that the usual "anchor" symbol behind the king's head had been omitted from the original design of this rare coin. However, another example, struck from the same obverse die, has recently turned up, confirming the presence of an "anchor". This shows that the erasure from the coin of the symbol had been performed quite carefully. On the historical significance of this coin see: Assar G.R.F., "A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 91-55 BC", Parthica 8 (2006/7), 55-104 (at 77).
Estimate: £200-250