Before The Indo-Parthians - AR Drachm Of Tanlis Mardates And Raggodeme

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,437
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 07/08/2020 11:51 am I can't help it, I love really weird and alien-looking ancient coins! Parthian satrapal states, Aria and Margiana (Modern-day SE Iran, Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan) Tanlis Mardates, with Raggodeme AR Drachm (18mm, 2.34g) Ca. 1st century BC Obv: TANΛIC MAΔATHC (sic), Helmeted, cuirassed bust of Tanlis Mardates right Rev: V ΡΑΓΓΟΔΗΜΗ ΚΥΡΙΑ, Veiled head of Raggodeme right, holding small palm in fist C/M: Bearded head right in cap, TANHΛC around Unfortunately, all that exists of Tanlis Mardates and his queen Raggodeme are the coins they left behind, which are quite rare. He seems to have been the predecessor to Gondophares, who pushed further east to establish the Indo-Parthian kingdom that flourished during the 1st century AD. It is worth noting that while my coin does not appear to be a fourree, it is in a somewhat different style and about a gram lighter than average, although only a tenth of a gram lighter than the Indo-Greek drachms - it is entirely possible that this coin is an imitation, perhaps minted by Indo-Scythian authorities. Report this Post to the Staff

erafjel Pillar of the Community Sweden 2124 Posts	Posted 07/08/2020 12:02 pm A fascinating coin, the queen is beautifully portrayed. Thanks for sharing! Report this Post to the Staff
Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 07/08/2020 1:58 pm Nicely quirky. I love this kind of stuff. Congrats on the pickup, Steve. I wonder if the C/M is "real" or worked into the dies, as was sometimes done with the Aria/Margiana Parthian imitatives that followed a period of legit countermarking on official Parthian drachms: http://goccf.com/t/275070 I would imagine it's a legit countermark - at least it looks so. I also suppose that this issue came after the first century BC imitations of Parthian types ran their course. If so, perhaps that might suggest a period of a bit more independence while the Parthians were preoccupied with internal and external pressures. (?) Mysteries of the East... Thanks for sharing. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 07/08/2020 4:27 pm Excellent coin, it the type of coin that am most interested in. Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 07/08/2020 5:45 pm Now that's what you call an interesting coin!...I've never seen anything like it before and especially like that little c/m....What a cool pick up! ........ Report this Post to the Staff
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 07/09/2020 2:28 pm Thanks guys! @Bob, based on the metal distortion on Mardates' neck, I am inclined to say that the countermark was applied after minting, although it is impressively evenly sunk into the coin; you can see how much deeper the "lip" is at the 12:00 position of the countermark as opposed to the 6:00 position. It's maybe a millimetre deep - with that much force, I would expect the obverse to be bowed out a bit more, but perhaps that could be avoided by placing it on a surface with a bit of give to absorb the force - maybe a strip of leather? And to your point, Paul, I was mainly drawn to this one because it's a true one-off - this kingdom/satrapy/province went from countermarking or imitating Parthian drachms, to briefly minting this one type, to being absorbed by the kingdom of Gondophares, who minted coins that were either more Parthian or more Indian, rather than this local flavor. It's the only example I can think of offhand that is a true one-off... even the more obscure kingdoms of Central Asia or India either minted multiple denominations or else carried a design theme from one king to the next. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 07/09/2020 5:53 pm Mitchiner Type 607, Sacaraucan coin struck at Alexadreia Arion (Herat)under suzerainty of Orodes I. Report this Post to the Staff
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