Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3073 25-26 & 29 Apr 2019
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PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Phraates III (ca. 70-57 BC). AR drachm (20mm, 4.09 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF★ 5/5 - 3/5. Court mint, Rhagae. Diademed and draped bust of Phraates III facing, wearing necklace with medallion / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY / APΣ-AKOY / ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EVEPΓETOV / EΠIΦANOVΣ ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ, legend in seven lines around, archer seated right, holding bow; monogram below bow. Sunrise 333. Sellwood 35.13 (Darius?). Shore -. With a superb bust of great artistry on a broad flan of good metal, accented by gorgeous champagne toning.
As is the case with many Parthian rulers, little is known of the reign of Phraates III, save for his occasional contacts and exchanges of correspondence with the Roman general Pompey the Great. He did, however, produce one of the most intriguing Parthian coins, this magnificent issue which shows the king in a fully frontal pose, a sharp departure of the usual practice of Parthian and Greco-Roman coinage. It may have been struck as a victory issue after the final defeat of his rival, Arsaces XVI, in 66 BC. The portrait is quite masterly rendered by this die engraver, working at the royal court mint of Rhagae.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 800-1200 USD
PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Phraates III (ca. 70-57 BC). AR drachm (20mm, 4.09 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF★ 5/5 - 3/5. Court mint, Rhagae. Diademed and draped bust of Phraates III facing, wearing necklace with medallion / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY / APΣ-AKOY / ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EVEPΓETOV / EΠIΦANOVΣ ΦIΛEΛΛHNOΣ, legend in seven lines around, archer seated right, holding bow; monogram below bow. Sunrise 333. Sellwood 35.13 (Darius?). Shore -. With a superb bust of great artistry on a broad flan of good metal, accented by gorgeous champagne toning.
As is the case with many Parthian rulers, little is known of the reign of Phraates III, save for his occasional contacts and exchanges of correspondence with the Roman general Pompey the Great. He did, however, produce one of the most intriguing Parthian coins, this magnificent issue which shows the king in a fully frontal pose, a sharp departure of the usual practice of Parthian and Greco-Roman coinage. It may have been struck as a victory issue after the final defeat of his rival, Arsaces XVI, in 66 BC. The portrait is quite masterly rendered by this die engraver, working at the royal court mint of Rhagae.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 800-1200 USD