The Coin Cabinet
Auction 71 28 Sep 2022
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AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5, overstruck | IRAN. PARTHIAN KINGDOM. Phraates IV, 38-2BC.
BI tetradrachm, 38-32BC.
Phraates IV was King of the Parthian Empire from 37 to 2 BC. He was the son and successor of Orodes II, who was given the throne after the death of his brother Pacorus I. Phraates IV soon murdered all his brothers, and also possibly his father, perhaps to secure his position on the throne.
Due to the active military conflicts, Parthian coinage observed a great debasement for Tetradrachms beginning with the reign of Orodes II, with silver content eventually falling below 50% in circulation during the early first century A.D. They became bullion coinage and ultimately disappeared shortly after the advent of the Sasanians in the third century A.D.
The output in coin production under Orodes II and Phraates IV is by far the largest of the whole Parthian monetary history. Significant iconographic developments can be observed in Orodes's tetradrachms, which abandoned the reverse image of the Parthian archer employed since Mithradates II and replaced it with the portrayal of the seated king receiving homage from the goddess of fortune, Tyche. Occasionally, other iconography was used, but the image of the king with Tyche dominates the tetradrachm reverses until the end of the dynasty. As such, the iconography of Phraates IV mostly kept the same style of Parthian coinage that was used under his father. The obverse of his coins portrays him with short hair and a beard, along with a visible moustache, and a royal wart on his brow.
Diademed and draped bust of Phraates left, royal wart on brow / Phraates seated right, receiving palm from Tyche, holding cornucopia, standing left; BACIΛEΩC BACΛEΩN ΛPCAKOY EYEPΓETOY ΔIKAIOY EΠIΦΛNOYC ΦIΛEΛΛHNOC
AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5, overstruck.
Diameter: 43.5 mm.
Weight: 13.57 g.
Composition: Billon Silver.
PLEASE NOTE: 6% Buyer Premium + VAT on this lot. No other fees, including live bidding. Delivery cost will be added to your order.
BI tetradrachm, 38-32BC.
Phraates IV was King of the Parthian Empire from 37 to 2 BC. He was the son and successor of Orodes II, who was given the throne after the death of his brother Pacorus I. Phraates IV soon murdered all his brothers, and also possibly his father, perhaps to secure his position on the throne.
Due to the active military conflicts, Parthian coinage observed a great debasement for Tetradrachms beginning with the reign of Orodes II, with silver content eventually falling below 50% in circulation during the early first century A.D. They became bullion coinage and ultimately disappeared shortly after the advent of the Sasanians in the third century A.D.
The output in coin production under Orodes II and Phraates IV is by far the largest of the whole Parthian monetary history. Significant iconographic developments can be observed in Orodes's tetradrachms, which abandoned the reverse image of the Parthian archer employed since Mithradates II and replaced it with the portrayal of the seated king receiving homage from the goddess of fortune, Tyche. Occasionally, other iconography was used, but the image of the king with Tyche dominates the tetradrachm reverses until the end of the dynasty. As such, the iconography of Phraates IV mostly kept the same style of Parthian coinage that was used under his father. The obverse of his coins portrays him with short hair and a beard, along with a visible moustache, and a royal wart on his brow.
Diademed and draped bust of Phraates left, royal wart on brow / Phraates seated right, receiving palm from Tyche, holding cornucopia, standing left; BACIΛEΩC BACΛEΩN ΛPCAKOY EYEPΓETOY ΔIKAIOY EΠIΦΛNOYC ΦIΛEΛΛHNOC
AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5, overstruck.
Diameter: 43.5 mm.
Weight: 13.57 g.
Composition: Billon Silver.
PLEASE NOTE: 6% Buyer Premium + VAT on this lot. No other fees, including live bidding. Delivery cost will be added to your order.