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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,577 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Won two lots today in the latest VAuctions sale, including this interesting (at least to me) coin below. It is rather ugly, with wear, deposits, a short flan crack, and a bit of verdigris in the crack - BUT it is also unique and unpublished, and so I'm especially happy to own it. Based on the tiara with upturned crescent and pellet, it would seem to be an issue of the Elymaean king Phraates, who ruled (according to Van't Haaff) early to mid 2nd century AD. This tiara type is unique to his coins. The lot description stated, "Extremely rare - one of only three known..." However, that description is erroneous in that it presupposes that this coin is a Van't Haaff 14.8.1-1, of which there are only two known examples, both published in Van't Haaff's reference book. In contrast to those two coins, the beard here is much longer and more triangular. Furthermore - and more importantly - the anchor here has two pellets below the upper crossbars - a device that the 14.8.1-1 coins lack. This example would therefore more accurately be referred to as a unique, unpublished variant of that type, or perhaps simply as a distinct unpublished type - presumably the only example known. Btw, prior to bidding I verified that the green deposits are hard; John Lavender said he sees no evidence of BD and that the green appears to him to be verdigris.  Edited by Kamnaskires
09/29/2017 9:18 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
Great catch Bob. Congrats on adding this interesting rarity to your collection.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
That is ugly and really shouldn't be in your collection. I'll do you a favor and take it off hands.  Bob, it's really a nice coin, congrats. You may want to try using that cleaning method I told you about to remove the incrustations. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Grats, had it been one of 3 it would have been good but you have the perspicacity to spot that it's unique. Even better!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
I know how satisfying it is to snag an unrecognized rarity. Haven't done it for myself in a while, but I know the thrill. Congrats on finding it and "rescuing" it from obscurity.
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Moderator
United States
34427 Posts |
Great pick-up Bob!
"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
7066 Posts |
Thanks, guys. Quote:
...satisfying...to snag an unrecognized rarity. Exactly, Irb. |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
this coin is maybe older than the two others , so it is normal the beard is longer... very nice obverse , congrats . albert |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Valued Member
Netherlands
91 Posts |
A tad bit tardy to the party, but that is an awesome find, Bob! It is always a pleasure to find a unique variety, especially when you can get it for the price of an ' ordinary' specimen. Great job!
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Better late than never!Sorry I've only just seen this thread...
Great pick up "Eagle eye Bob"..One question, not been asked yet,What is the reverse description?
Paul
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I pondered whether to bid on that one. Nice eye and super pick-up, Bob!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, Mika, Paul, and Steve. Quote:
What is the reverse description? It's a degenerated, meaningless legend surrounding a degraded, diademed bearded bust left (covered here by the encrustations). About two hundred years earlier, this reverse type was first struck (albeit with a naturalistic portrait and readable Greek) under the reign of Kamnaskires V. As Van't Haaff states with regard to those earlier issues, "It has been suggested that the image on the reverse is the father of the ruler. It may also represent the sky god Belos." I think that the original Greek legend translated to something like King Kamnaskires son of King Kamnaskires. But the degraded form of the legend, along with the portrait, continued post-Kamnaskirid Dynasty on into the Elymais Arsacid Dynasty, with many kings using it for their coins' reverses. Given the unreadable gibberish that the legend degraded to, and the eventual high level of abstraction the bust was subjected to, it would seem that this reverse iconography had lost whatever meaning it initially had and instead became just a tradition to carry on. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,577 |
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Posted 09/29/2017 9:54 pm
