| Author |
 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,035 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Recently won this lot of six Vologases III tetradrachms. I have a fondness for tiara-type Parthian tets, and these will be added to the others in my collection. One is relatively rare (the Sellwood 79.16), the others much less so. One has lamination problems and evidence of a horrible repair attempt. Some have encrustations. They certainly are not my prettiest coins, but they are special. The provenance/pedigree here is the best a Parthian collector can hope for, and that's why I feel especially good about watching over them for the next few decades: they are from the David Sellwood Collection. I already own several ex-Sellwood Collection coins, and it is nice to add more. For more than forty years, Sellwood's "An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia" has been the primary reference for the attribution of Parthian coins. There have been strong contenders along the way: Fred B. Shore's "Parthian Coins and History: Ten Dragons Against Rome" (1993), the published research of Dr. G.R.F. Assar, "The Numismatic Art of Persia: The Sunrise Collection" (2011), and the in-progress "Sylloge Nummorum Parthicorum." But Sellwood's work - particularly his 1980 second edition - remains the gold standard for attribution as far as many Parthian enthusiasts are concerned. Sellwood was born in Brentford, West London in 1925. He was a member of the British Numismatic Society for many years and he served as president of the Royal Numismatic Society from 1979 until 1984. He passed away in April 2012. All are Vologases III tets, c. 105 - 147 AD: Sellwood 79.16:  Sellwood 79.14:  Sellwood 79.17:  Sellwood 79.13 or 79.23:  Sellwood 79.5:  Sellwood 79.10:  For anyone who may be interested in perusing, my Parthian collection is here: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ga...p?album=3627...and an article I authored about Parthians here: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/nu...hian%20Coins |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Super coins Bob, you are the man to go when it comes to the Parthian Empire. What is the legend on these?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, Ron. The seven line Greek inscription (heavily cropped on these) translates, I believe, as "King of King, Arsakes, Vologases the Just, the Noble, the Greek-loving." The use of the personal name (Vologases) is unusual in the Parthian series. Thus attribution of these is easier (more certain) than with most Parthian coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
The 79:17 is the prettiest to my eye, but they are all good in their own ways...
I keep threatening to buy some Parthian drachms, but not getting around to it at present... I have 4 on my watch list on V-coins but one that says "buy me" hasn't really accosted me yet.
I will have a look at your links though with a keen interest...
|
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Bob thanks for the translation. I need to start getting more into this empire. BTW your collection is outstanding.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4966 Posts |
oh wow, congratulations Bob...what a great group of tets! hey, I didn't know these things were dated...the three letters between tyche and the king...neato! I've put parthian tet high on my 2016 to get list. here's my only parthian coin of 2015, a drachm of vologases iii...Bob was kind enough to fly wingman for me on that purchase.  Parthian Empire, Vologases III, Drachm, 105-147 AD. O: Bust with diadem to l. R: Archer seated to r. holding bow. Monogram A below, Ecbatana mint, 3.9 g, 20 mm, Sellwood 78.5 Edited by chrsmat71
11/20/2015 11:00 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
 Very nice lot. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, all. Good to "see" you, Chris. Quote:
...I didn't know these things were dated... Yes, the Volo III tets were dated. As you say, the year is written above the diadem on the reverse, and the month is in exergue - which, given the usual tight flans and cropping of the lower reverse legends, means you're lucky if you get a coin with even just the top of the month's letters. The three Greek letters that make up the years each has a numerical equivalent. By adding them, you get the Seleukid era date which is easy to convert to the equivalent Common Era year. So, although I list my coins here broadly as c. 105 - 147 AD (Volo III's reign), I could be more specific and list the actual years if I wished. But I am too lazy. Edited by Kamnaskires
11/21/2015 11:34 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4966 Posts |
thanks bob, nice to stop by for a visit. oh cool, the month as well? let's try one...the sellwood 79.5 is "gamma+lambda+upsilon", so that's SE 433. subtract 312 to get the date in AD...so 121 AD (year starts in october). i did't remember how to do this, I used a cheat sheet! http://www.parthia.com/parthia_calendar.htm |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Exactly right, Chris. gamma = 3, lambda = 30, and upsilon = 400, thus 433 Seleukid, 121 CE. Congrats, you passed the math exam! At times like this I really wish CCF boards supported Greek letters, so we wouldn't have to spell out the names. For those who may be interested (not sure that anyone really is), here are the numerical equivalents for the letters, and the month names as they appear on these coins...and, at the bottom is the method for converting Seleukid years to "our" calendar:  (from Shore's "Ten Dragons...") Edited by Kamnaskires
11/21/2015 12:00 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
fantastic collection , albert
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Impressive as always Bob.I particularly like 79.17. These should make quite the addition to your collection.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
Yes, a very fantastic collection! Thank you for the information and the pictures Bob!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
Just saw this Bob. Fantastic little collection you picked up. The fourth one down intrigues me due to what appears to be the unusual head gear. All the best.
Steve S.
|
|
Valued Member
Belgium
464 Posts |
AAAAmazing collection you have there
and congratz on the new additions they also look very attractive
|
| |
Replies: 21 / Views: 3,035 |
Posted 11/20/2015 6:20 pm
