Greek Coinage Cont’d Se s s i o n O n e - T h u rs d a y , O c to b e r 29 , 2 0 0 9 1 0 : 0 0 a m
POWERFUL PORTRAIT TETRADRACHM OF MITHRADATES THE GREAT
Enlargement 91
Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates I, c. 171-138 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.38 g), Seleucia-on-the-Tigris mint. Diademed and draped bearded bust right; reel and spool border around. Reverse: Naked Herakles standing left, holding club and lion's skin; name and royal titles flanking; A-X-P monogram in exergue. Sellwood 13.2; Shore 35. Nicely centered and boldly struck up. A little trifling edge porosity on reverse, some light roughness on the highest points, otherwise metal of unusually high quality for the tetradrachms. Toned devices on lighter fields, with considerable mint luster. Powerful, realistic portrait -- splendid Hellenistic art. Rare, especially in this quality. NGC graded Uncirculated. This tetradrachm is the first of this denomination struck by the Parthians. Minting was initiated shortly after the Parthians had wrested possession of Mesopotamia away from the Seleucids. As with most of the subsequent tetradrachms, coining took place at the Seleucia-on-theTigris mint. The choice quality Hellenistic-style portraits displayed on most of Mithradates'coins would indicate that the trained and talented die-cutters employed by the Seleucids were retained initially. By the end of his reign, the "Greek-ness" of his coins was waning. With the advent of Orodes I's reign, around 90 BC, the coins are wholly "oriental" in technique and style. Estimated Value .................................................................................................................................................................................................. $8,000 - 9,000 Ex Millennia Sale, lot 89.
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Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates II, c. 123-91 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.68 g), Seleucia-on-the-Tigris mint, struck c. 119109 BC. Diademed, bearded bust left, wearing embellished jacket, with torque at neck. Reverse: Arsakes I, in ethnic garb, seated right on omphalos and holding up bow, all within square formed by legend; A-P-T monogram behind, upright palm to right of legend. Sellwood 24.5; Shore 68; Nicely centered and well struck up on spacious flan. NGC graded About Uncirculated.
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The Parthians were the arch (or should we say archer?) enemies of Rome for several centuries. While the silver drachms are most often seen, tetradrachms and bronzes were also issued; there are no gold coins known of this kingdom, encompassing modern Iran and surrounding territories. Many different citymints were employed, along with traveling military and court mints. Early silver tetradrachms were all very rare and generally in circulated condition until a sizable hoard was unearthed about 15 years ago. Today, this group has been dispersed throughout the world, and occurrences in the modern marketplace are seldom for these glorious, quasi-medallion, Hellenistic portrait coins. Estimated Value ......................................................... $2,500 - 3,000 Ex Millennia Sale, lot 60. 33
Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates II, c. 123-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.72 g) minted at Seleucia. Diademed and bearded bust left of Mithradates II. Reverse: Archer seated right on omphalos; in exergue, monogram. Sellwood 24v (this monogram not listed). Slightly double-struck. Minted in high relief and nicely centered on a large flan;. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value ......................................................... $2,500 - 3,000
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