Lot 91
Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates I, c. 171-138 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.38 g), Seleucia-on-the-Tigris mint. Diademed and draped bearded bust right; reel and spool border around. Reverse: Naked Herakles standing left, holding club and lion's skin; name and royal titles flanking; A-X-P monogram in exergue. Sellwood 13.2; Shore 35. Nicely centered and boldly struck up. A little trifling edge porosity on reverse, some light roughness on the highest points, otherwise metal of unusually high quality for the tetradrachms. Toned devices on lighter fields, with considerable mint luster. Powerful, realistic portrait -- splendid Hellenistic art. Rare, especially in this quality. NGC graded Uncirculated.
This tetradrachm is the first of this denomination struck by the Parthians. Minting was initiated shortly after the Parthians had wrested possession of Mesopotamia away from the Seleucids. As with most of the subsequent tetradrachms, coining took place at the Seleucia-on-the-Tigris mint. The choice quality Hellenistic-style portraits displayed on most of Mithradates' coins would indicate that the trained and talented die-cutters employed by the Seleucids were retained initially. By the end of his reign, the "Greek-ness" of his coins was waning. With the advent of Orodes I's reign, around 90 BC, the coins are wholly "oriental" in technique and style.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Millennia Sale, lot 89.
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| Realized $11,213 |
