DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0067
THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.
57
435, 437 (P.O.). Count de Salis has left a note of a tetradrachm bearing the date 460, but
without stating where he saw it. We here reach a well-known crux of Parthian numismatics.
We have two series of coins, of which one covers the years 389—90, the other the years
423—450 (or even 460). The head on all these coins is unmistakably the same, but style
and metal both become ruder as years go on (c/. No. 1 with No. 2). It seems impossible
to avoid the conclusion that both series belong to the same King, and that the name of that
King was Vologeses we know from the legend. The historians inform us of a Vologeses who
was reigning about the year 442 (130 a.d.), and it is clearly this prince who issued our coins.
During the earlier part of his rule, which corresponds with the reign of Pacorus, he can
have possessed but a small part of Parthia, and the Boman historians, who give us an account
of the war of Trajan and Chosroes, never once mention his name. And in fact the cessation
of his coinage during that war seems to point to his temporary effacement. On the death
of Chosroes, he seems to have become sole Parthian king. We have fair numismatic evidence,
then, for a reign of 61 years by this prince, a thing which is the more remarkable, as the
head on his very earliest pieces is that of a bearded man, who must apparently be at least
twenty-five years of age.
Vologeses IV.
Plate VII. 8. Obv. Head of Vologeses 1. in helmet with back-piece; behind B.
Rev. BASIAEQS BASIAEQN APSAKOY OAATASOY AIKAIOY EIHQANOYS <DIA-
EAAHNOS. Vologeses, seated 1., receives wreath from City who holds sceptre. Date
AHY AnEAAAIOY.
Tetradrachm. B.M. Wt. 208-8.
9. Obv. Same head. Date EOY.
Rev. Head of City r.; in front A .
B.M. -6.
10. Obv. Head 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces.
Rev. (KU ^yiA) ^0% Wbl (Volgasi Malka). Greek inscr. illegible. Arsaces seated
r.; in front A-
Drachm. B.M. AVt. 55.
11. Obv. Same head.
Rev. City seated r.; holds palm and comucopiae.
B.M. 7E -35.
12. Obv. As No. 8.
Rev. (KU ^--(U dJUjl ^AjO,) fccbfc wSl (Volgasi Arsak Malkin
Malka). Beligious symbol.
B.M. 2E -85.
Varieties of No. 11, type of rev. V.
The tetradrachms are extremely numerous; their dates vary from 460 Dius (B.M.) to
502 (P.O. and Paris). The copper coins from 460 (P.O.) to 488 (B.M.). The head on the
GARDNER 8
57
435, 437 (P.O.). Count de Salis has left a note of a tetradrachm bearing the date 460, but
without stating where he saw it. We here reach a well-known crux of Parthian numismatics.
We have two series of coins, of which one covers the years 389—90, the other the years
423—450 (or even 460). The head on all these coins is unmistakably the same, but style
and metal both become ruder as years go on (c/. No. 1 with No. 2). It seems impossible
to avoid the conclusion that both series belong to the same King, and that the name of that
King was Vologeses we know from the legend. The historians inform us of a Vologeses who
was reigning about the year 442 (130 a.d.), and it is clearly this prince who issued our coins.
During the earlier part of his rule, which corresponds with the reign of Pacorus, he can
have possessed but a small part of Parthia, and the Boman historians, who give us an account
of the war of Trajan and Chosroes, never once mention his name. And in fact the cessation
of his coinage during that war seems to point to his temporary effacement. On the death
of Chosroes, he seems to have become sole Parthian king. We have fair numismatic evidence,
then, for a reign of 61 years by this prince, a thing which is the more remarkable, as the
head on his very earliest pieces is that of a bearded man, who must apparently be at least
twenty-five years of age.
Vologeses IV.
Plate VII. 8. Obv. Head of Vologeses 1. in helmet with back-piece; behind B.
Rev. BASIAEQS BASIAEQN APSAKOY OAATASOY AIKAIOY EIHQANOYS <DIA-
EAAHNOS. Vologeses, seated 1., receives wreath from City who holds sceptre. Date
AHY AnEAAAIOY.
Tetradrachm. B.M. Wt. 208-8.
9. Obv. Same head. Date EOY.
Rev. Head of City r.; in front A .
B.M. -6.
10. Obv. Head 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces.
Rev. (KU ^yiA) ^0% Wbl (Volgasi Malka). Greek inscr. illegible. Arsaces seated
r.; in front A-
Drachm. B.M. AVt. 55.
11. Obv. Same head.
Rev. City seated r.; holds palm and comucopiae.
B.M. 7E -35.
12. Obv. As No. 8.
Rev. (KU ^--(U dJUjl ^AjO,) fccbfc wSl (Volgasi Arsak Malkin
Malka). Beligious symbol.
B.M. 2E -85.
Varieties of No. 11, type of rev. V.
The tetradrachms are extremely numerous; their dates vary from 460 Dius (B.M.) to
502 (P.O. and Paris). The copper coins from 460 (P.O.) to 488 (B.M.). The head on the
GARDNER 8