Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 96 14-15 February 2017
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Kingdom of Persis. Autophradates (Vadfradad) I. Silver Tetradrachm (16.73 g), 3rd century BC. Persepolis. Diademed and head of Autophradates I right, wearing kyrbasia and pendant earring. Reverse: Fire Temple; to left, king standing right, in prayer; to right, standard; above, half-figure of Ahura-Mazda. Klose & Müseler -; Alram 540 & 542; Sunrise 570. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $3,000 - 4,000
The native Iranian rulers of Persis in the early third century BC are a very controversial bunch. Some scholars see them as loyal Seleukid governors of a troubled territory for Seleukos I and Antiochos I while others have interpreted them as rebels attempting to revive an independent Persian realm at the expense of the Seleukid Empire. Most of the coinage is overstruck on Seleukid host coins, which is tantalizing enough, but the Persid series is most interesting for its use of Greek norms of numismatic representation while featuring distinctly Iranian iconography. As on the majority of Greek coins (Syracuse and Corinth are the big exceptions), the obverse is dominated by a portrait head, in this case that of Autophradates I wearing the kyrbasia headdress commonly worn by Persian satraps. The similarity between this portrait and the image of the satrap Tiribazos (ca. 388-380 BC) on coins of Mallos is striking. The reverse is in line with general Greek custom in its use of a full figure design, but here the figure is not a god or hero as is most commonly the case, but rather Autophradates I worshipping before a Zoroastrian fire altar, with a figure of the chief deity of Zoroastrianism, Ahura-Mazda, rising above.
The native Iranian rulers of Persis in the early third century BC are a very controversial bunch. Some scholars see them as loyal Seleukid governors of a troubled territory for Seleukos I and Antiochos I while others have interpreted them as rebels attempting to revive an independent Persian realm at the expense of the Seleukid Empire. Most of the coinage is overstruck on Seleukid host coins, which is tantalizing enough, but the Persid series is most interesting for its use of Greek norms of numismatic representation while featuring distinctly Iranian iconography. As on the majority of Greek coins (Syracuse and Corinth are the big exceptions), the obverse is dominated by a portrait head, in this case that of Autophradates I wearing the kyrbasia headdress commonly worn by Persian satraps. The similarity between this portrait and the image of the satrap Tiribazos (ca. 388-380 BC) on coins of Mallos is striking. The reverse is in line with general Greek custom in its use of a full figure design, but here the figure is not a god or hero as is most commonly the case, but rather Autophradates I worshipping before a Zoroastrian fire altar, with a figure of the chief deity of Zoroastrianism, Ahura-Mazda, rising above.