Sellwood's Tiridates is here named Tiridates I to differentiate him from Tiridates II (c. A.D. 35 - 36) who is not mentioned by Sellwood, and Tiridates III, subsequently identified by Sellwood.1 Also confusing is the parenthetical statement by Wilfred H. Schoff in Parthian Stations that "Tiridates (sometimes called Tiridates II) was set up by the Parthians in 32 B.C. against Phraates IV...". See the genealogy chart.
Tiridates was a usurper who challenged Phraates IV (c. 38 - 2 B.C.) for the Parthian kingship. He was temporarily successful, forcing Phraates to flee Parthia. Phraates regrouped his forces and re-invaded, and eventually forced Tiridates to seek refuge among the Romans. Tiridates took with him a hostage son of Phraates who Augustus later exchanged in 20 B.C. for the Roman legionary standards captured from the legions under Crassus at Carrhae in 53 B.C., Saxa in 40 B.C. and Marc Anthony in 36 B.C. Tiridates returned a few years later for another attempt, forcing Phraates to once again seek safety. It is during this period that his coins included the legend ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ, "friend of the Romans", dated March to May 26 B.C. (thus the terminus date of 26 B.C. for his reign, not 27 B.C. as given by Sellwood). But Tiridates was likely killed during the last of his several attempts to overthrow Phraates as his name disappears from the historical record after 25 B.C.
While all the tetradrachms below are attributed to Tiridates according to Sellwood, de Callataÿ's important 1994 die study2 has supplanted Sellwood and Shore by proving that, of the tetradrachms attributed by Sellwood to Tiridates, only types S55.7-9 are Tiridates. The remainder (S55.1-6 and S55.10-14) are Phraates IV. This also means all coins in Shore3 attributed to Tiridates are Phraates IV. However, this arrangement does not satisfactorily explain the absence of the royal wart from the tetradrachms of Phraates IV. The prominence of the wart on the other issues of Phraates IV (S50 through S54) leads us to wonder, if these 55.1-6 and 55.10-14 issues do belong to Phraates IV, why do they not have the wart?
Click here to view the inscriptions on this king's coins.
In a very interesting analysis of dates on the S55.3-6 tetradrachms, de Callataÿ has suggested4 that there are five month dates that include ΔΑΙΣΙ. The first is May, then an single letter abbreviation for each of the following months June to September is prefixed as follows:
| ΔΑΙΣΙ | ΔΑΙΣΙΟΝ | May |
| Π ΔΑΙΣΙ | Π = ΠΑΝΗΜΟΝ | June |
| Ο ΔΑΙΣΙ | Ο = ΟΛΩΙΟΝ | July |
| Γ ΔΑΙΣΙ | Γ = ΓΟΡΠΙΑΙΟΝ | August |
| Υ ΔΑΙΣΙ | Υ = ΥΠΕΡΒΕΡΕΤΑΙΟΝ | September |
Coins with all these dates are included in the examples below.
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Notes:
1. Sellwood. "The End of the Parthian Dynasty," Spink Numismatic Circular 98, 1990, p. 157
2. de Callataÿ, Les tétradrachmes d'OrodèsII et de Phraate IV (1994)
3. Shore. Parthian Coins and History (1993), coins 306-311.
4. de Callataÿ p. 29.
The attributions and cataloging of Parthian coins used throughout this web site follow David Sellwood's An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia (1980, 2nd edition) for consistency. The few exceptions to this policy are explained here.
Click on coin images to enlarge:
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The following coins are attributed to Tiridates by Sellwood, but Phraates IV by de Callataÿ January, 28 B.C. Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 15.06g, 28mm, 12h Mint/ Seleucia, January, 28 B.C. Obv/ bust left with pointed beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; three formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne, right hand extended; in front, Tyche stands left presenting wreath in right hand, and holding scepter in left; below throne, Greek letters ΔΠΣ; in exergue, Greek letters ΠΕΡΙΤΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ none available - Sellwood 55.1 - de Callataÿ not listed |
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 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 11.18g Mint/ Seleucia, May, 27 B.C. Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne; in right hand Nike stands right presenting wreath; in left hand, scepter; between king's feet, a pellet; under throne, Greek letters ΕΠΣ; in exergue, Greek letters ΔΑΙΣΙ ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 55.5-6 variant (no month prefix; pellet between feet) - Allotte de la Fuÿe, 1333 - BMC Parthia, not listed - de Callataÿ 128 (Phraates IV) - Shore 308 |
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 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 14.35g Mint/ Seleucia, June, 27 B.C. Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne; in right hand Nike stands right presenting wreath; in left hand, scepter; under throne, Greek letters ΕΠΣ; in exergue, Greek letters Π ΔΑΙΣ ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. - Sellwood 55.6 variant (pellet between feet) - de Callataÿ 137 (Phraates IV) (this coin) - Peus 314 (30 Oct-1 Nov 1985), 245 - Peus 332 (Oct 1991), 315 - Schulten (Apr 1988), 230 - Shore 308 |
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 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 15.31g, 28mm, 12h Mint/ Seleucia, July, 27 B.C. Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne; in right hand Nike stands right presenting wreath; in left hand, scepter; between king's feet, a pellet; under throne, Greek letters ΕΠΣ; in exergue, Greek letters O ΔΑΙΣΙ ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. - Sellwood 55.5-6 variant (month O ΔΑΙΣΙ; pellet between feet) - de Callataÿ 130 (Phraates IV) (this coin) - Peus 372 (Oct 2002), Lot 659 (this coin) |
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 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 14.58g Mint/ Seleucia, August, 27 B.C. Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne; in right hand Nike stands right presenting wreath; in left hand, scepter; under throne, Greek letters ΕΠΣ; in exergue, Greek letters Γ ΔΑΙΣΙ ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Classical Numismatic Group - Sellwood 55.5 variant (pellet between feet) - Allotte de la Fuÿe, 1332 - CNG eBay Jun 2001, Product ID: 726938 (this coin) - de Callataÿ 144 (Phraates IV) |
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The following coins are attributed to Tiridates by both Sellwood and de Callataÿ. Note that the inscription includes ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ (instead of ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ) and adds ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ. March, 26 B.C. Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm, 14.01g Mint/ Seleucia, March, [26 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and holding scepter in left; vertically behind Tyche, Greek letters ϚΠΣ; above palm, Greek letters ΞΑ; in exergue, Greek word ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Note/ year date has inverted digamma Location/ Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Petrowicz plaster casts) Photo/ by Chris Hopkins - Sellwood 55.7 - Petrowicz, p.99,2; pl.XIII-2 (as Tiridates II?) (this coin) - de Callataÿ not listed |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm, 11.61g Mint/ Seleucia, May, [26 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and holding scepter in left; pellet above Tyche's arm; vertically behind Tyche, Greek letters ϚΠΣ; above palm, Greek letters ΞΑ; in exergue, Greek word ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Note/ year date has inverted digamma Location/ British Museum Photo/ Wroth, Catalog of Parthian Coins in the British Museum (1903) - Sellwood 55.7 variant (pellet above Tyche's arm) - BMC Parthia, p.135, 1; pl.23, no. 8 (as Tiridates II?) (this coin) - de Callataÿ pl.XX, 2 (Tiridates) |
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 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm, 11.73g Mint/ Seleucia, May, [26 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and holding scepter in left; vertically behind Tyche, Greek letters ϚΠΣ; above palm, Greek letters ΔΑΙ; in exergue, Greek word ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ British Museum Photo/ Wroth, Catalog of Parthian Coins in the British Museum (1903) - Sellwood 55.9 variant (pellet above Tyche's arm) - BMC Parthia, p.135, 2; plate 23, no. 9 (Tiridates II?) (this coin) - de Callataÿ pl.XX, 5 (Tiridates) |
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The following coins are attributed to Tiridates by Sellwood, but to Phraates IV by de Callataÿ and include the same inscription as type 55.1-6 (that is, not using ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ and ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ). April 27(?) Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 15.44g, 27mm Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; below throne, Greek letter Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Royale, Brussels, Inv. II, 81866 Photo/ by Chris Hopkins - Sellwood 55.10 - A-B. Simonetta (1987), pl.14, 10 - BM, 1894-5-6-2109 (Cunningham) - CNR XVII(2) 1992, lot 107 (this coin) - de Callataÿ 100 (Phraates IV) (this coin) - SNG Lockett 3288 - SNG Milano, XII(4), 63 |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 15.00g, 28mm Mint/ Seleucia, April 27, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; below throne, Greek letter Α; between king's feet, Greek letter Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Pars Coins - Sellwood 55.10 variant (Α between feet) - de Callataÿ 87 (Phraates IV) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 14.0g Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; below bow, pellet; below throne, Greek letter Α; between king's feet, Greek letter Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photo/ by permission Ken Dorney, Classical Numismatist - Sellwood 55.10 variant (Α between feet; pellet below bow) (month off flan) - de Callataÿ not listed (Phraates IV) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 26mm Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ Bibliothèque royale, Cabinet des Médailles, no. II, 81864 Photo/ by permission Windsor Antiquities - Sellwood 55.10 variant (Α missing under throne) - de Callataÿnot listed (Phraates IV) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; below throne, Greek letter Δ; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ Bibliothèque royale, Cabinet des Médailles, no. II, 81864 Photo/ Yahoo auction (Sep 2000) - Sellwood 55.10 variant (Δ under throne) - de Callataÿ not listed (Phraates IV) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 26mm Mint/ Seleucia, April 27, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated left on throne, holding bow in right hand, scepter in left; above bow, monogram; below throne, pellet above Δ; between king's feet, Greek letter Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜΙ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ Bibliothèque royale, Cabinet des Médailles, no. II, 81864 Photo/ by permission Windsor Antiquities - Sellwood 55.10 variant (pellet above Δ under throne; Α between feet) (month off flan) - de Callataÿ 96-99 (Phraates IV) - Numismatica Ars Classica C (11-12 Mar 1993), 1470 |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 14.48g Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and in left holding scepter; above her arm, monogram 40; between king's legs, Greek letter Α; under throne, Greek letters Υ above Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ British Museum Photo/ BMC Parthia (1903) - Sellwood 55.11 - BMC Parthia, p.109, 55; plate 20, no. 3 (Phraates IV) (ex Lubicz) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 11.93g, 26mm, 12h Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and in left holding scepter; above her arm, monogram 40 is erased, apparently removed from coin (see detail); between king's legs, Greek letter Α; under throne, Greek letters Υ above Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Photos/ by Pieter Anne van't Haaff - Sellwood 55.11 variant (monogram removed above Tyche's arm) |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.) (de Callataÿ's Phraates IV)AR Tetradrachm, 14.95g, 28mm, 11h Mint/ Seleucia, April, [27 B.C.] Obv/ bust left with medium tapered beard wearing diadem and three-band torque with no visible end; no wart; four formal rows of curls with no ear visible; circular border of dots Rev/ male wearing diadem seated right on throne; to his right, Tyche[?] stands left presenting palm branch in right hand, and in left holding scepter; above her arm, monogram 40 and a pellet; between king's legs, Greek letter Α; under throne, Greek letters Υ above Α; in exergue, Greek letters ΑΡΤΕΜ; seven-line Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ / ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ / ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ; no border Location/ Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Royale, Brussels, Inv. II, 81867 Photo/ by Chris Hopkins - Sellwood 55.11 variant (pellet above Tyche's arm) - BM 1877-7-1-9 Feuardent - de Callataÿ 108 (Phraates IV) (this coin) - Hirsch 160 (1988), Lot 324 - Lanz 20 (1981), Lot 307 - Münz Zentrum 39 (1980), Lot 680 - Peus 290 (1976), lot 152 - Shore 311 |
 Tiridates I
(c. 29 - 26 B.C.)AR Drachm 3.88 g (PDC 88192) Mint/ Rhagae, undated (circa. 28 B.C.?) Obv/ bare-headed bust left with royal wart, pointed beard; wearing diadem. Segmented necklet, no eagle behind head, no star nor crescent in front Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow, below bow monogram Note/ Sellwood reports that there are traces of the eagle on the obverse having been removed from the original die, and believes this indicates use by Tiridates I of the Phraates IV die modified to his purposes. "When Phraates withdrew to obtain Scythian assistance, Tiridates or his supporters had an opportunity briefly to move up onto the plateau where drachms were produced from this hurriedly altered die." [Sellwood, "The 'Victory' Drachms of Phraates IV", AJN (1995-96), p. 80]. So far, this coin appears to be unique. Photo/ by permission Baldwin's - Sellwood cf. 53.6 variant (eagle removed from die) - Sellwood, "The 'Victory' Drachms of Phraates IV", AJN (1995-96), plate 12, #11 (this coin) - New York Sale 34 (6 Jan 2015), lot 436 (this coin) |
This page last updated 13 Mar 2021
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