The Wise Men And The Era Of Azes - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 2,973
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 09/30/2012 8:07 pm The Era of Azes...There is lingering debate weather there was an Azes II or if all coins are of Azes I, in the past coins have been over struck and seem to have circulated together of lots attributed to Azes I r. 48-45BC - 25BC. My particular coin is attributed to Azes II 35BC-5AD. Ref. Senior 99.64. This coin features the King (who we will call Azes) seated on horseback, arm out stretched whip in hand. The reverse is a little different then the Zeus normally found on very similar coins. My coin features Poseidon arm outstretched with the Trident. The Kharoshthi and Greek inscriptions both read the same. Azes, The Great King of Kings. The tradition of including a Greek Diety on the reverse of coinage was a trend made famouos in the region by none other than...The Man Menander I...I wish I had his Tetradrachm....oh wait I do.... There has been some who market this tetradrachm series as "wise man coins" as it was thought that Azes was the king from the east who sent Mary of Nazareth items off the her baby registery. I wonder with how much certainty, can people make this assumption. I must admit this series of Tetradrachms are by far the cheapest Ancient Silver tetradrachms you can get. You could look today and see 10 of these going for $60-$150. I also must admit that when I took my photo I drew a black line through the obverse, and I am too lazy to fix it. Era of Azes Wise Men c.35BC-5AD AR Tetradrachm 24.7mm x 24.4mm (8.76g) Obverse: BASILEOS BASILEON MEGALOU AZOU "of the Great King of Kings Azes" King Azes Armored Seated on Horse Back right Whip in Hand. Reverse: Kharoshthi Script Poesidon in Buddist Pose Arm out stretched Trident Relaxed. Report this Post to the Staff

Bing Pillar of the Community United States 4253 Posts	Posted 09/30/2012 8:29 pm Now you're just trying to make me jealous. And you're succeeding. Between you and steve......... Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 09/30/2012 8:34 pm I really thought the Macedon Helm of Philip V would have done it. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 09/30/2012 8:50 pm Very interesting coin. Congrats. Report this Post to the Staff
stevex6 Pillar of the Community 3352 Posts	Posted 09/30/2012 8:56 pm Sweet looking coins, brother! ... I don't have any poseidon coins (very nice!!) Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16868 Posts	Posted 10/01/2012 12:43 am Quote: I wonder with how much certainty, can people make this assumption. They can't. The only indication of place of origin of the magi is "from the east". That could in theory be anywhere from Nabatea to China. However, the word "Magi", which is the actual Greek word used in the original texts, is a Persian-derived word and frequently associated in non-Biblical sources with the astrologer-priests of Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion of Persia at the time. The Magi, as reported in the bible, were star-watchers, which backs up this hypothesis; the Indo-Scythians were Buddhists. As Persia was ruled by the Parthians in 1 AD, a coin of Phraates IV or V might be a more logical choice for a "coin of the Magi". And, logically, even if the Magi had come all the way from Indo-Scythia, they wouldn't still have had Indo-Scythian coins in their purses. Indo-Scythian coins are quite debased, and wouldn't have been readily accepted further west where good silver coins still circulated. They'd have had either Parthian or Roman coins on their person during their visit. Of course, the marketing of Indo-Scythian coins instead is more about pragmatism than logic. Not only do Indo-Scythian coins look cooler, but they're more abundant in the bulk quantities needed for the mass-marketeers, thanks to the recent disorder in and western exposure to Afghanistan, the ancient Indo-Scythian homeland. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
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