Lot 289
Artabanus II (127-126 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 15.99g, 1h. Artabanus II (127-126 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 15.99g, 1h. Minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed and long bearded bust right, reel-and-pellet border. Rev. Demeter enthroned left, holding Nike in outstretched right hand, cornucopia in left hand, two-line inscription ??S???OS ??S???Y, letter T in field left, date ??? (187 SEM = autumn 126 BC – autumn 125 BC) in exergue (S 18.1 var, Inter-regnal issue, dated variety with controller’s mark; Sunrise 274). Good fine/about very fine. Extremely rare, one of only six known examples. Justin (42.2.1) intimates that the successor of Phraates II was his paternal uncle, Artabanus. He went to war with the Tocharian nomads and lost his life after a poisoned arrow wounded him in the arm. According to Sellwood, the S 18 output was issued during an inter-regnum in Parthia when the mint authorities in Seleucia, "unsure of the political outcome, temporised by using a fictitious portrait of the recently dead king (Mithradates I)". However, a small number of cuneiform fragments register a "King Arsaces" at Babylon during March – July 126 BC who could have minted the undated S 18.1 Tetradrachms, corresponding to Year 186 SEM (autumn 127 BC to autumn 126 BC). This Arsacid prince was previously identified with Bagayash/Bagasis, brother of Mithradates I and his appointed governor of Media Magna and Atropatene in 148 BC. However, further studies have revealed that Bagasis never ascended the Parthian throne as king and died shortly before the demise of Phraates II about autumn 127 BC. Hence the attribution of the S18.1 (undated) and S 18.1 var (dated 187 SEM) Tetradrachms to Artabanus (II) who succeeded Phraates II in late 127 BC - early 126 BC. On the historical significance of this issue see: Assar G.R.F., "Recent Studies in Parthian History: Part II", The Celator. Journal of Ancient and Medieval Coinage 15.1 (2001), 17-27 and 41 (attributed to Bagasis); Assar G.R.F. "Recent Studies in Parthian History: Part III", The Celator. Journal of Ancient and Medieval Coinage 15.2 (2001), 17-22 (attributed to Bagasis); Assar G.R.F., "A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 165-91 B.C.", Electrum 11 (2006), 87-158 (at 114-116, attributed to Bagasis).
Estimated Value $2,800-UP.
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