DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0041
THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.
31
Plate II. 4. Obv. Same head ; no border.
Rev. BAIIAEQ^ METAAOY APSAKOY. The Dioscuri on horseback charging r.
B.M. 2E IT.
5. Obv. [As last].
Rev. Same inscr. Elephant r.
B.M. 2E IT.
6. Obv. As last.
Rev. Inscr. obscure. Nike in quadriga r.
B.M. 2E -75.
7. Obv. Head of King r. diad.
Rev. BA£IAEQS METAAOY APSAKOY. Head of a king r. with a long beard, in
Scythian helmet.
Oboi. B.M. Wt. 10-2.
Varieties:—Of Nos. 4-6, types of copper, bow in case, horse’s head r., ssy, Nike r. holding wreath (all
B.M.). Of No. 7, same types and legend in copper (2E -65, B.M.).
The attribution of classes a, /3, y is fairly certain. Some writers have indeed supposed
that the head of class a, usually with short round beard, is not the same as the head of
class /3 with long beard. But Mithradates had a long reign, and many changes may have
been made in the coinage. When he adopted the title /3arrc\evs (3aaLXewv, he allowed an
entirely fresh portrait of himself to appear on his coins, showing him as a more mature man.
1 think that no one denies the head wearing helmet os class y to be the same as the diademed
head of class /3. Of this helmet I have spoken above.
It is difficult to believe that the coins of class 3 were issued by this King. The titles
evepyeTT]<; and 8ikmo<? do not again appear on the Parthian coins for a long while to come,
and the portrait of the King presents some modification. I have little doubt that these pieces
were struck after the death of Mithradates, either during an interregnum, or by some prince
too modest to wish to place his own effigy on his coins. But to attempt to define their period
more closely would be nothing but guess-work ; so that they are best placed last among the
coins os Mithradates. The title evepyerr]? was introduced by Ptolemy III. of Egypt ; that
of ScKcubs by Agathocles of Bactria. Both titles, therefore, are as early as the third century
b.c., and there is no reason why Mithradates should not have adopted them as well as any of
his successors.
The silver coins composing class e have caused a great deal of discussion. Their date is
fortunately fixed by the letters in their exergues to b.c. 140-138, a period which well agrees
with the general style of the coins. This period certainly falls within the reign of Mithra-
dates ; but, on the other hand, the head of the coins differs decidedly from the usual head of
the great Parthian. Count von Prokesch-Osten has maintained that the pieces belong to
Valarsaces, whom, according to Moses of Chorene, Mithradates established as King in Armenia,
31
Plate II. 4. Obv. Same head ; no border.
Rev. BAIIAEQ^ METAAOY APSAKOY. The Dioscuri on horseback charging r.
B.M. 2E IT.
5. Obv. [As last].
Rev. Same inscr. Elephant r.
B.M. 2E IT.
6. Obv. As last.
Rev. Inscr. obscure. Nike in quadriga r.
B.M. 2E -75.
7. Obv. Head of King r. diad.
Rev. BA£IAEQS METAAOY APSAKOY. Head of a king r. with a long beard, in
Scythian helmet.
Oboi. B.M. Wt. 10-2.
Varieties:—Of Nos. 4-6, types of copper, bow in case, horse’s head r., ssy, Nike r. holding wreath (all
B.M.). Of No. 7, same types and legend in copper (2E -65, B.M.).
The attribution of classes a, /3, y is fairly certain. Some writers have indeed supposed
that the head of class a, usually with short round beard, is not the same as the head of
class /3 with long beard. But Mithradates had a long reign, and many changes may have
been made in the coinage. When he adopted the title /3arrc\evs (3aaLXewv, he allowed an
entirely fresh portrait of himself to appear on his coins, showing him as a more mature man.
1 think that no one denies the head wearing helmet os class y to be the same as the diademed
head of class /3. Of this helmet I have spoken above.
It is difficult to believe that the coins of class 3 were issued by this King. The titles
evepyeTT]<; and 8ikmo<? do not again appear on the Parthian coins for a long while to come,
and the portrait of the King presents some modification. I have little doubt that these pieces
were struck after the death of Mithradates, either during an interregnum, or by some prince
too modest to wish to place his own effigy on his coins. But to attempt to define their period
more closely would be nothing but guess-work ; so that they are best placed last among the
coins os Mithradates. The title evepyerr]? was introduced by Ptolemy III. of Egypt ; that
of ScKcubs by Agathocles of Bactria. Both titles, therefore, are as early as the third century
b.c., and there is no reason why Mithradates should not have adopted them as well as any of
his successors.
The silver coins composing class e have caused a great deal of discussion. Their date is
fortunately fixed by the letters in their exergues to b.c. 140-138, a period which well agrees
with the general style of the coins. This period certainly falls within the reign of Mithra-
dates ; but, on the other hand, the head of the coins differs decidedly from the usual head of
the great Parthian. Count von Prokesch-Osten has maintained that the pieces belong to
Valarsaces, whom, according to Moses of Chorene, Mithradates established as King in Armenia,