The Many Faces Of Tyche

Neat thread idea, Scott - and wonderful coins.




Tyche played a prominent role in the reverses of Parthian tets from the 1st century BC through the fall of the empire in the early 3rd century BC. The depictions of her presenting the king with either a palm branch or diadem serve to legitimize the king's claim to power. Early on her crown is more obviously turreted; later it just looks like a fancy crown.

Here are a few of mine with better renditions of Tyche on their reverses. I'll present them in chronological order, but I suspect you could figure out the chronology based on the stylistic change over time, from Greek naturalism (well, sort of) to the more eastern style.


Orodes II, 57-38 BC


Vardanes II, struck 56 AD


Vologases III, struck 123/4 AD


Vologases III, struck 123/4 AD


Vologases III, struck 126/7 AD


Vologases IV, struck October 155 AD

Excellent rendition of Tyche, Ron.

Those are really great Bob.

I didn't realize tyche was that prominent in Parthian culture.



Seems like Phoenicia took care to present Tyche well.

Nice coin Ron, that's the kind of portrait I've been looking for.

Nice to have a Tyche thread--and you guys have some pretty amazing examples. Here is a Vologases IV Tet that can serve as a slightly later example to Bob's post: