Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIV 21 Sep 2017
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Parthia(?), 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana(?), circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram of Andragoras(?) behind / Owl standing right, head facing; prow behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; SNG ANS -; H. Nicolet-Pierre / M. Amandry, "Un nouveau trésor de monnaies d'argent pseudo-Athéniennes venu d'Afghanistan", RN 1994, 36-39; Mitchiner 13a = G.F. Hill, Greek coins acquired by the British Museum in 1920," in NC 1921, 17. 16.75g, 25mm, 6h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only two other examples on CoinArchives.
The presence of this particular monogram on these issues of the 'Athenian Series' coinage is confounding. It is (with the occasional inclusion or omission of a central vertical line) precisely the same monogram that appears on all of the silver tetradrachms of Andragoras, as well as the gold staters (BMC Arabia, North East Persia 1) which have been variously attributed to either a Satrap appointed by Alexander in c.331 BC, or the Seleukid satrap who declared independence in 246/5 BC. The monogram has three possible explanations: firstly, the monogram could be an engraver's signature; secondly, it could be a magistral mark, the monogram of a mint or treasury official; thirdly, it could be the monogram of the issuing authority, i.e. the satrap.
If indeed as we have proposed above there was only the one Andragoras, and that his silver and gold coinage is related, it is equally possible that the monogram could belong to engraver, official or satrap. However, examining the monogram itself, one can easily read 'ANΔPAΓOPAΣ', whether the central vertical line is present or not. The implications, if this is indeed correct, are significant. It may require the reconsideration of the attribution of at least part of the 'Athenian Series' and 'Eagle Series' coinage from Sophytes to Andragoras and therefore the Ekbatana mint. The matter is not so simple though, since the 'MNA' mark that appears on some other 'Athenian Series' coins also appears on the bust truncation of the helmeted coins of Sophytes. Additionally, there are other monograms and marks which cannot be tied to either Andragoras or Sophytes. One possible answer to this puzzle is that the 'Athenian Series' was not all struck at a single 'uncertain mint in the Oxus region', and that Athenian imitations were being produced at various satrapal minting facilities in the region for the purpose of local commerce, each utilising a different control mark or set of controls. Nicolet-Pierre and Amandry also reached the same tentative conclusion (see N&A p.40).
We will not presume to attempt to solve a century old mystery in the few hours available to us - this must be left to others with more time - however in this cataloguer's opinion the links between the 'Athenian Series' and the coinage of both Andragoras and Sophytes cannot be ignored, and for the time being we have elected to re-attribute part of the 'Athenian Series' and 'Eagle Series' to the mint under Andragoras' control, since the same monogram can be found across those series."
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only two other examples on CoinArchives.
The presence of this particular monogram on these issues of the 'Athenian Series' coinage is confounding. It is (with the occasional inclusion or omission of a central vertical line) precisely the same monogram that appears on all of the silver tetradrachms of Andragoras, as well as the gold staters (BMC Arabia, North East Persia 1) which have been variously attributed to either a Satrap appointed by Alexander in c.331 BC, or the Seleukid satrap who declared independence in 246/5 BC. The monogram has three possible explanations: firstly, the monogram could be an engraver's signature; secondly, it could be a magistral mark, the monogram of a mint or treasury official; thirdly, it could be the monogram of the issuing authority, i.e. the satrap.
If indeed as we have proposed above there was only the one Andragoras, and that his silver and gold coinage is related, it is equally possible that the monogram could belong to engraver, official or satrap. However, examining the monogram itself, one can easily read 'ANΔPAΓOPAΣ', whether the central vertical line is present or not. The implications, if this is indeed correct, are significant. It may require the reconsideration of the attribution of at least part of the 'Athenian Series' and 'Eagle Series' coinage from Sophytes to Andragoras and therefore the Ekbatana mint. The matter is not so simple though, since the 'MNA' mark that appears on some other 'Athenian Series' coins also appears on the bust truncation of the helmeted coins of Sophytes. Additionally, there are other monograms and marks which cannot be tied to either Andragoras or Sophytes. One possible answer to this puzzle is that the 'Athenian Series' was not all struck at a single 'uncertain mint in the Oxus region', and that Athenian imitations were being produced at various satrapal minting facilities in the region for the purpose of local commerce, each utilising a different control mark or set of controls. Nicolet-Pierre and Amandry also reached the same tentative conclusion (see N&A p.40).
We will not presume to attempt to solve a century old mystery in the few hours available to us - this must be left to others with more time - however in this cataloguer's opinion the links between the 'Athenian Series' and the coinage of both Andragoras and Sophytes cannot be ignored, and for the time being we have elected to re-attribute part of the 'Athenian Series' and 'Eagle Series' to the mint under Andragoras' control, since the same monogram can be found across those series."