Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIII 23 March 2017
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Kings of Parthia, Mithradates I AR Tetradrachm. Seleukeia on the Tigris, circa 141/0 BC. Diademed and draped bust right of Mithradates right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY APΣAKOY ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ, diademed and beardless young Herakles standing left, holding skyphos in extended right hand and cradling club in lion skin-draped left arm; monogram in exergue. Sellwood 13.2; Shore 35; BMC 50; Sunrise 260 (this coin). 15.02g, 26mm, 1h.
Extremely Fine.
Ex Sunrise Collection;
Ex Gorny & Mosch 129, 8 March 2004, lot 195;
Ex Santa Barbara Museum Collection, Numismatic Fine Arts I, 20 March 1975, lot 195.
This type represents the first issue of tetradrachms by the Parthians. They were coined shortly after the Parthians had conquered Mesopotamia from the waning Seleukid Empire. As was to be expected, the die engravers of the mint at the Seleukid capital produced coinage that stylistically differed very little from the issues of the previous century under the Seleukid kings. While this could be viewed as both expedient and pragmatic – the Parthians had not struck coins since the reign of Arsakes and probably lacked experienced die cutters – Mithradates in fact actively promoted Hellenism in his territories and indeed styled himself 'Philhellenos' as seen on this coin. He also assumed the traditional Greek symbol of kingship, the diadem. Yet by the end of his reign, the Greek qualities that were so apparent on his early coinage were in decline, and by the reign of Orodes I in around 90 BC, the coins had become thoroughly eastern in style.
Extremely Fine.
Ex Sunrise Collection;
Ex Gorny & Mosch 129, 8 March 2004, lot 195;
Ex Santa Barbara Museum Collection, Numismatic Fine Arts I, 20 March 1975, lot 195.
This type represents the first issue of tetradrachms by the Parthians. They were coined shortly after the Parthians had conquered Mesopotamia from the waning Seleukid Empire. As was to be expected, the die engravers of the mint at the Seleukid capital produced coinage that stylistically differed very little from the issues of the previous century under the Seleukid kings. While this could be viewed as both expedient and pragmatic – the Parthians had not struck coins since the reign of Arsakes and probably lacked experienced die cutters – Mithradates in fact actively promoted Hellenism in his territories and indeed styled himself 'Philhellenos' as seen on this coin. He also assumed the traditional Greek symbol of kingship, the diadem. Yet by the end of his reign, the Greek qualities that were so apparent on his early coinage were in decline, and by the reign of Orodes I in around 90 BC, the coins had become thoroughly eastern in style.