DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0070
60
NUMISMATA ORIENTALTA.
Plate VII. 24. Obv. As last.
Rev. BNT. Nike 1. holding palm.
B.M. J3 -3.
Varieties:—Of No. 21, date 327 Hyperb. (Imhoof-Blumer). Of No. 24, date 353 (B.M.). The city of
Seleucia ad Tigrim also issued coins dated 270 (B.M.).
The date a.s. 326 Ilyperberetaeus of coin No. 21 falls within the reign of Artabanus III.
As at this time Artabanus was occupied in an expedition into Armenia, where he set up his
son Orodes as governor, Von Prokesch-Osten thinks that this coin is a memorial of the brief reign
of the latter prince. In the monogram he reads, by what method I know not, the name of
Artaxata, capital of Armenia. The attribution to Orodes is possible, but by no means
established; but the place of mintage quite uncertain.
No. 22 is not dated, but is very interesting as giving a proof that the monogram A or
stands for a city. This city stood on a river, but we can ascertain nothing more about it.
No. 23. The date 1st of Dius of the year 324, that is to say, the 1st day of the 324th
year of the Seleucidae, unfortunately falls into a period of history which is to us quite blank.
Some great event must have on that day taken place. There is no sufficient reason for giving
those pieces to Seleucia, as is usually done.
No. 24. This coin is probably a memorial of the revolt of Seleucia, which took place in
the year a.d. 40. The city retained its freedom for seven years, and was then reduced by
V ardanes.
Previously, in the reign of Orodes also, Seleucia had revolted, and was reduced, as we
are told, by the Surenas. But as this revolt seems to have taken place before b.c. 54, the
coin of Seleucia, dated 270, can scarcely have been issued during the brief period of autonomy.
Appendix.
Plate VII. 25. Obv. Head of a king r. diad.; behind border of dots and beads.
Rev. BAVAEQS KAMNA^KIPOY NIKH0OPOY. Apollo seated 1. on omphalos,
holding arrow and bow ; border of dots.
Tetradrachm. Paris.
26. Obv. Heads of a King and Queen 1.; behind, Seleucid anchor.
Rev. BAVAEQS KAMNA^KIPOY KAI BAVAI^HS ANZAZHV Zeus seated 1.
holding Nike and sceptre; in ex. date AAV
Tetradrachm. B.M. Wt. 242.
The King Mnaskires has been so long one of the recognized rulers of Parthia, that I
add the above two coins to my plate in order to justify me in excluding him. I have already
observed (supra, page 7), that all that Lucian testifies to is the existence of a Kamnaskires,
who was napdvabaiv fiaacXevs. But as Lucian places him not by the side of Sinatroces,
among the true Parthian Kings, but among the rulers of Characene, it is probable that he
was not an Arsacid, but a subordinate prince of some part of the Parthian dominions. This
NUMISMATA ORIENTALTA.
Plate VII. 24. Obv. As last.
Rev. BNT. Nike 1. holding palm.
B.M. J3 -3.
Varieties:—Of No. 21, date 327 Hyperb. (Imhoof-Blumer). Of No. 24, date 353 (B.M.). The city of
Seleucia ad Tigrim also issued coins dated 270 (B.M.).
The date a.s. 326 Ilyperberetaeus of coin No. 21 falls within the reign of Artabanus III.
As at this time Artabanus was occupied in an expedition into Armenia, where he set up his
son Orodes as governor, Von Prokesch-Osten thinks that this coin is a memorial of the brief reign
of the latter prince. In the monogram he reads, by what method I know not, the name of
Artaxata, capital of Armenia. The attribution to Orodes is possible, but by no means
established; but the place of mintage quite uncertain.
No. 22 is not dated, but is very interesting as giving a proof that the monogram A or
stands for a city. This city stood on a river, but we can ascertain nothing more about it.
No. 23. The date 1st of Dius of the year 324, that is to say, the 1st day of the 324th
year of the Seleucidae, unfortunately falls into a period of history which is to us quite blank.
Some great event must have on that day taken place. There is no sufficient reason for giving
those pieces to Seleucia, as is usually done.
No. 24. This coin is probably a memorial of the revolt of Seleucia, which took place in
the year a.d. 40. The city retained its freedom for seven years, and was then reduced by
V ardanes.
Previously, in the reign of Orodes also, Seleucia had revolted, and was reduced, as we
are told, by the Surenas. But as this revolt seems to have taken place before b.c. 54, the
coin of Seleucia, dated 270, can scarcely have been issued during the brief period of autonomy.
Appendix.
Plate VII. 25. Obv. Head of a king r. diad.; behind border of dots and beads.
Rev. BAVAEQS KAMNA^KIPOY NIKH0OPOY. Apollo seated 1. on omphalos,
holding arrow and bow ; border of dots.
Tetradrachm. Paris.
26. Obv. Heads of a King and Queen 1.; behind, Seleucid anchor.
Rev. BAVAEQS KAMNA^KIPOY KAI BAVAI^HS ANZAZHV Zeus seated 1.
holding Nike and sceptre; in ex. date AAV
Tetradrachm. B.M. Wt. 242.
The King Mnaskires has been so long one of the recognized rulers of Parthia, that I
add the above two coins to my plate in order to justify me in excluding him. I have already
observed (supra, page 7), that all that Lucian testifies to is the existence of a Kamnaskires,
who was napdvabaiv fiaacXevs. But as Lucian places him not by the side of Sinatroces,
among the true Parthian Kings, but among the rulers of Characene, it is probable that he
was not an Arsacid, but a subordinate prince of some part of the Parthian dominions. This