E-Auction 47

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Closed September 6, 2023
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  1. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    E47, Lot 298:

    28 COINS. THE PARTHIAN KINGDOM. 23 silver drachms and 5 Æ representing 14 different kings.

    14 different kings are represented with silver drachms, some with various portrait styles, ranging from 191 B.C. - A.D. 228: Mithradates I, Mithradates II, Unknown King (Arsakes XVI), Gotarzes I, Orodes II, Phraates IV, Artabanus II, Vardanes I, Vonones II (Meherdates, Usurper?), Artabanus III, Vologases III, Parthamaspates, Osroes II, and Vologases VI.

    Grades average Very Fine to Extremely Fine, all with excellent portraits. Many of the drachms are EF. The Æ coins are pleasing and interesting. The holders include the collector's attributions, weights, grades, and sources. Pat purchased the majority from Mehrdad Sadigh, a prominent Iranian dealer active at the time he was collecting, and a few from other dealers including Tom Walker and Davissons.

    (28 coins) Lot sold as is, no returns.

    The Zabel Collection.

     

    Fred B. Shore was a numismatist, dealer and friend throughout our early years dealing in coins. I recommend his “Parthian Coins & History: Ten Dragons Against Rome” ((Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., 1993). That, along with David Sellwood’s “An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia, Second Edition” (Spink, London, Pardy & Sons Ltd., 1980) provide a fascinating entre into the world of the Parthians. Fred's book was particularly helpful as I drafted these notes.

    Circa 247 B.C. Arsakes, first king of Parthia and founder of the dynasty, led his small tribe of Central Asian nomads into the eastern frontier of the remains of Alexander’s great empire to carve out a kingdom. The predominant theory sees them as part of the stream of barbarian invasions sweeping down out of Central Asia in this period to conquer the civilized nations of Iran, India and the West, and most likely as descended from Scythian tribes. They are fascinating for several reasons. Alone among civilized nations, the Parthian kingdom stood up to Roman legions at the peak of their power and often emerged victorious, utilizing their army of horse-archers, each unit or “dragon” consisting of one thousand horsemen. But most important to us is the remarkable coinage they developed with its unique combination of Greek and nomadic art, expressing their proud and independent nature, and their gallantry in war.

    Pat Zabel used his good eye to put together a collection emphasizing quality and including many scarce types. Happily, Parthian coinage is also very affordable. This group is generally high grade with nice surfaces and beautiful old toning. Purchase this as a good starter collection along with the Shore and/or Sellwood references and you will be well on your way to forming a satisfying collection. Research continues to add to the knowledge on this fascinating series. (MD)

  2. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    E47, Lot 299:

    38 COINS. ANCIENT ASIA MINOR AND THE EASTERN KINGDOMS. Lydia under Persian rule, Babylonia, Phoenicia, The Elymais Kingdom, Arabia (the Himyarites), Persis, and the Sassanian Kingdom, with Pat Zabel’s notes and attributions. 13 silver and 25 Æ.

     

    •PERSIAN IMPERIAL SILVER: (4 sigloi) (Kneeling archer, the Great King, holding spear and bow or dagger and bow), all with Pat Zabel’s attributions. He identifies them as Xerxes (486-465 B.C.), Artaxerxes I-Darius III (450-330 B.C.) (2), and Cyrus the Younger (401 B.C.). All with beautiful old toning; average grade Fine to Very Fine. Sources include Harlan Berk and Alex Malloy.

    (These coins provide a fascinating view into the history of the great ancient Eastern empires, their massive armies, military campaigns and battles. In the mighty struggle between Sparta and Athens, Thycydides describes Persian support for the Spartan admiral Lysander and his navy. Xenophon and Plutarch and Diodorus describe the mobilization of thousands of Greek mercenaries (hoplites and peltasts), and tens of thousands of Asian fighters. Described by Zenophon as courageous, generous, grateful, warmhearted, and an audacious fighter, Cyrus the Younger was struck down at the age of 22 while attacking his brother Artaxerxes II.)

    •Babylon, AR drachm with the iconic design, Baal enthroned / Lion walking (cf. S 6144). (Toned Very Fine.)

    •The Elymais Kingdom (ca. 163 B.C.- ca. 224 A.D.) (19 Æ drachms) The coins average VF to Extremely Fine, and are beautifully patinated. (Includes Kamnaskires VI (?), Phraates, Orodes I, II, III, and IV, and Prince X.) Elymais was a small obscure kingdom in the hills between Babylonia and Persis. It maintained quasi-independence until conquered by Ardashir, along with Parthia, about 224 A.D. and became part of his new Sassanian Empire.

    •Himyarite, A.D. 1-100, AR diobol, Raidan Mint. The Himyarite Confederacy dominated Yemen from the second century B.C. It remained independent of Rome but maintained diplomatic ties due to the importance of the trade routes to India.

    •Arabia, Bostra, Antoninus Pius AE drachm (camel). (A charming relic of Roman rule in this region.)

    •Persis, c. 140 B.C. Darius I (AR drachm). Napat and Prince Y (AR hemidrachms, 2). (Purchased from Tom Walker and Davissons Ltd.) Sakastan, c. AD 10-61, AE dichalkoi (Local imitation of Artabanus 63.21 with countermark of head right engraved on die (purchased from Davissons Ltd.).

    Persis, a kingdom in southern Persia, produced a large amount of silver coinage during the first two centuries A.D., until in A.D. 224 they were conquered by Ardashir and became part of his New Persian Empire of the Sassanids.

    •The Sassanian Kingdom. AR drachms (4). Æ chalkous (1). (purchased from Tom Walker and Mehrdad Sadigh)

    •Phoenicia: Tyre (2 Æ); Sidon (1 Æ). Fine to Extremely Fine, average Good VF, all attractively toned or patinated. The majority purchased from Davissons Ltd., Mehrdad Sadigh, and Tom Walker.

     

    (37 coins; 13 silver and 24 Æ) Lot sold as is, no returns.

    The Zabel Collection

 

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