DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0069
THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.
59
The dates of the tetradrachms begin with 520 (P.O.) and 521 (B.M.), and continue to
533 (B.M.) There is at Paris a coin with very similar type and corrupt legend, bearing the
date 539. This piece is interesting, as we know that Artabanus was defeated and slain by
the Persians before a.s. 539. We may therefore, with some confidence, conclude that Volo-
geses, about whom history, curiously enough, tells us nothing, lived and reigned a year longer
than his brother. Or it is possible that the coin may have been issued by Artavasdes (see
below). I have seen the piece, and it appears to me that the portrait does not materially
differ from that on coins of earlier date.
Artabanus V.
Plate VII. 19.
Obv. Head of Artabanus 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces.
Rev. (LCL* ^Wp3) ^^5^2 'OFHn (Hartabi Malka) and corrupt Greek legend. Arsaces
seated r.; in front a-
Drachm. B.M. Wt. 56-4.
Varieties: copper with types of rev. wild-goat 1. (B.M.), eagle 1. (P.O.).
It is not a little singular that of the two brothers, Vologeses and Artabanus, the latter
should consistently be mentioned as King by the Boman historians at the time of Caracalla’s
invasion, yet that the former should apparently have issued all the tetradrachms. For I
believe that wherever a tetradrachm of this period bears any legible name, it is always that
of Vologeses.
Artavasdes.
Plate VII. 20. Obv. Head of Artavasdes 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces, beard forked; behind >V = ta|{^.
Rev. (L(L-« j>JA/) (Artabazu Malka) and corrupt Greek legend. Arsaces
seated r.; in front
Drachm. B.M. Wt. 56.
Varieties : type of copper, rev. eagle 1. holding wreath (P.O.).
This coin gives us the name os the successor of Artabanus, who strove vainly after his
death to resist the growing power of the Persians, and soon fell, dragging with him the whole
Parthian Empire.
Dated Civic Coins.
Plate VII. 21.
Obv. Head of City r. wearing turreted crown.
Rev. SKT VriEPBEPETAIOY. Veiled female head r.; behind X].
P.O. PE -5.
22.
Obv. Head of City r. wearing turreted crown.
Rev. nOAl^ A. City seated 1. on rocks, holding in r. Nike; beneath her issues 1. a
homed^river-god.
B.M. AE -3.
23.
Obv. As last.
D AK<
Pfry. AIOY
A
B.M. PE -3.
59
The dates of the tetradrachms begin with 520 (P.O.) and 521 (B.M.), and continue to
533 (B.M.) There is at Paris a coin with very similar type and corrupt legend, bearing the
date 539. This piece is interesting, as we know that Artabanus was defeated and slain by
the Persians before a.s. 539. We may therefore, with some confidence, conclude that Volo-
geses, about whom history, curiously enough, tells us nothing, lived and reigned a year longer
than his brother. Or it is possible that the coin may have been issued by Artavasdes (see
below). I have seen the piece, and it appears to me that the portrait does not materially
differ from that on coins of earlier date.
Artabanus V.
Plate VII. 19.
Obv. Head of Artabanus 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces.
Rev. (LCL* ^Wp3) ^^5^2 'OFHn (Hartabi Malka) and corrupt Greek legend. Arsaces
seated r.; in front a-
Drachm. B.M. Wt. 56-4.
Varieties: copper with types of rev. wild-goat 1. (B.M.), eagle 1. (P.O.).
It is not a little singular that of the two brothers, Vologeses and Artabanus, the latter
should consistently be mentioned as King by the Boman historians at the time of Caracalla’s
invasion, yet that the former should apparently have issued all the tetradrachms. For I
believe that wherever a tetradrachm of this period bears any legible name, it is always that
of Vologeses.
Artavasdes.
Plate VII. 20. Obv. Head of Artavasdes 1. in helmet with cheek-pieces, beard forked; behind >V = ta|{^.
Rev. (L(L-« j>JA/) (Artabazu Malka) and corrupt Greek legend. Arsaces
seated r.; in front
Drachm. B.M. Wt. 56.
Varieties : type of copper, rev. eagle 1. holding wreath (P.O.).
This coin gives us the name os the successor of Artabanus, who strove vainly after his
death to resist the growing power of the Persians, and soon fell, dragging with him the whole
Parthian Empire.
Dated Civic Coins.
Plate VII. 21.
Obv. Head of City r. wearing turreted crown.
Rev. SKT VriEPBEPETAIOY. Veiled female head r.; behind X].
P.O. PE -5.
22.
Obv. Head of City r. wearing turreted crown.
Rev. nOAl^ A. City seated 1. on rocks, holding in r. Nike; beneath her issues 1. a
homed^river-god.
B.M. AE -3.
23.
Obv. As last.
D AK<
Pfry. AIOY
A
B.M. PE -3.