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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,370 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Purchased this one a while ago but just got around to taking photos in good lighting. Parthia Mithradates II 121-91 BC AR Drachm Diademed bust of Mithradates left Arsaces seated, holding bow, 5 line legend BASILEWS BASILEWN MEGALOU ARSAKOU EPIPHANOS Rhagae mint? Seller identified as Sellwood 27.1   Not the best and with some minor environmental damage, but an accepted best offer plus 10% ebay bucks made this one a very solid deal! Glad to finally have him marked off my list! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Always nice to see a Parthian on the board, Steve - and a particularly nice one at that. Congrats. You've made my avatar happy - he's probably smiling under the beard. The attribution is correct. This issue - the Sellwood 27.1/Shore 85 - includes the first use of the title 'King of kings' on Parthian coins.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Congrats on a really nice looking coin. It's always nice to see one of these here.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
In my long numismatic experience, better than any I have seen 'in hand'.
Congratulations.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Wow. That is one sharp beauty. Really nice example. Congratulations.
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Moderator
United States
34409 Posts |
Great coin!  . I reeally like the Parthian coins. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
Thanks all!
I was torn between the diadem versus the tiara bust; however this one was the best and most problem-free available that was still within my budget. It is hard to capture in the photo, but the coin is very attractive and flashy in hand, especially the reverse.
Speaking of the reverse, it has always struck me as odd how a die engraver who took such care with the bust could make a reverse figure that looks almost comically sloppy. Do we know why that is, or is it just a mystery?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Its a looker of a coin that for certain... a little bit of porosity to the right of the bust but aside from that very hard to fault it. I only have one of these coins, a bit more patina than yours though...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Very nice! How is the luster? I can't really tell from the pics.
I need to get myself a Parthian coin eventually. Probably when I graduate from college and have more money to expand into other collecting areas.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Thanks, Thomas and David!
It is an attractive coin in hand, but the porosity does affect how the obverse catches light. Just a bit; really for a sub-$100 coin, you have to expect some compromises. The reverse is fresh-from-the-mint shiny.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,370 |
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Posted 12/23/2016 5:16 pm
