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Tiny (Parthian?) Bronze Coins

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abcoin's Avatar
United States
15 Posts
 Posted 03/19/2016  4:40 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add abcoin to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hello everyone, I recently acquired these two small coins as part of a lot. I suspect they are from Parthia/ancient Iran but would appreciate confirmation of that as well as any suggestions on reference materials to consult for identifying these.

The first (darker) one is 1.4 grams and has a maximum diameter of 11 mm. The second weighs about 1.3 grams and has a maximum diameter of 12 mm.

I can work on getting some better photos, although these small coins are difficult to photograph.


Tiny-Parthian?-Bronze-Coins

Tiny-Parthian?-Bronze-Coins

Tiny-Parthian?-Bronze-Coins

Tiny-Parthian?-Bronze-Coins
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Kamnaskires's Avatar
United States
7066 Posts
 Posted 03/19/2016  5:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Kamnaskires to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Agreed they are the right size/weight for Parthian chalkoi.

I'm pretty sure your second coin is Artabanus II. For similar see:
http://www.coinproject.com/coin_det...?coin=231949
http://www.coinproject.com/coin_det...?coin=111580

First one appears to have a Nike reverse (your top pic). If it's Parthian, this limits the choice down nicely to Vonones I, Parthamaspates, and Vologases IV, I believe. (a couple other rulers had Nike reverses on their chalkoi as well, but with square borders or multiple legend lines...so they are out of contention) I originally thought Vonones I, but the reverses on those chalkoi have no border as yours does. Really, then, if Parthian it is likely Parthamaspates or Volo IV. I am leaning toward Vologases IV at this point but, again, if you can get a better image of the obverse (your second pic) it would help greatly.
Edited by Kamnaskires
03/19/2016 5:36 pm
New Member
abcoin's Avatar
United States
15 Posts
 Posted 03/19/2016  6:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add abcoin to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi Bob,

Here's another photo of that side of the coin. It's more worn that the other side, but what you see in the photo is almost as much as you can see in person.

Thank you for your helpful links and suggestions on both of these.

Tiny-Parthian?-Bronze-Coins
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Kamnaskires's Avatar
United States
7066 Posts
 Posted 03/19/2016  8:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Kamnaskires to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hmmm. Hard one...I hate to admit defeat, but without the coin in hand, and with a loop to get in tight, I'm stumped...and, even if I could inspect it closely, it may simply be too far gone in its wear. I'm also less confident now in my assumption of the reverse being Nike...it could, I suppose, be an eagle.

The new pic you provide of the obverse seems to show a long straight beard (if I'm reading it right). One possibility is, as I suggested earlier, a chalkous of Vologases IV...although the new pic is steering me away a bit from that idea. Another possibility is a mule of an Artabanos III obverse and an eagle reverse of Pacorus II (Sellwood 77.13 reverse). Artabanos II is another possibility based on the straight beard, and he did issue a chalkous with eagle reverse (Sellwood 63.23).

The challenge here is that Parthian chalkoi are very poorly documented compared to the silver issues - AND most are in terrible shape.
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