A Parthian Tiara-Type Tet Obsession

THE nicest set of Partbian tetradrachms I have seen, even in picture form, and an obvious inspiration to an in depth study of them.
A real demonstration of practical numismatics in action.

Thanks, Steve1, David, and Steve2. Steve1: I may just pull together an updated family pic at some point soon, with the additions of the last couple of months added to the original group on page one. Thanks for the suggestion and nice comments.

Thank you, Ron.

Picked up a provenanced Vologases III tetradrachm, Sellwood 79.15, last week in a CNG auction. It's a particularly nice one for the type, and one that has a monogram and date combo that until now my collection lacked. It is from the Nisa Collection, one of the bigger Parthian collections to be sold off in recent years.

The Greek letters between the heads of Tyche and Vologases on the reverse have the numerical value of 435 in the Seleucid Era, meaning that the coin was struck 123/124 AD. The month is off flan.

The new pick-up is below, along with a low res shot of the group of tiara-type tets as it stands thus far. I'm not including the tiara-tets of Vologases IV and VI here (I have about eight of those) because of the ear flaps those tiaras have. Since those tiaras differ from these, it seems appropriate not to include them with this group. All of the tiaras below - from coins of Pakoros II, Vologases II, and Vologases III - are of a similar type.

Wow! a beautiful addition to a very impressive collection. I hope to add more tets to my small collection some day. Congrats Bob.

Another well spotted, well purchased and superb Parthian Tetradrachm Bob!
(In the eleven years of buying ancient coins I can count the number of Parthian coins I have bought on one hand and may have a couple of pinkies to spare at that!)

I'm returning to this old thread to add what looks to be two more acquisitions. Been tracking the results of a European auction today, and it looks like I won the two lots below. (Thanks, antwerpen2306/Albert, for bringing the auction to my attention) I'm sure it'll be some time before I have the coins in hand, so figured I'd use the auction house's pics and post them today.

They are both Vologases III tets and will find a welcome home in my collection of the tiara-types I enjoy so much. These two coins are in rough shape with porosity, wear, and scrapes - but, importantly, they come with great provenance. Specifically they are from the collection of Alberto Simonetta, a major scholar in the world of Parthian and Indo-Parthian numismatics. If anyone is interested, a list of his extensive works (which span 1949 through 2007) is available in the bibliography at Parthia.com, about a quarter way down the page here: http://www.parthia.com/webreport_59.htm


Vologases III (c. AD 105-147). BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.56g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris, year 438 (AD 126). Diademed and draped bust l., wearing tiara; Γ behind. R/ Vologases seated l., receiving wreath from Tyche standing r., holding sceptre. Sellwood 79.26 var. (year).



Vologases III (c. AD 105-147). BI Tetradrachm (23mm, 13.15g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris, year 440 (AD 127/8). Diademed and draped bust l., wearing tiara. R/ Vologases seated l., receiving wreath from Tyche standing r., holding sceptre. Sellwood 79.25-8 var. (year). Ex CNG 1996, Sale 37, lot 754