196, Lot: 69. Estimate $300. Sold for $1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Phriapatios. 185-170 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.51 g, 12h). Rhagai-Asakia mint(?). Bust left, wearing bashlyk / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow. Assar, Genealogy, fig. 8; Sellwood 8.1 (Mithradates I); Shore 5 (Mithradates I). Good VF, toned, slight roughness. Fine style. Rare.

This issue was traditionally assigned to the early reign of Mithradates I, but has recently been reattributed to Phriapatios by Dr. G.R.F. Assar (G.R.F. Assar, "Genealogy and Coinage of the Early Parthian Rulers," Parthica 5 [2003]). Assar notes that Phriapatios began minting S7 drachms as soon as he realized that Antiochus III was preparing to take on the Romans at Magnesia. He then followed this with S8 drachms. However, towards the end of his reign, Phriapatios adopted the title King and minted some of the S9 drachms (with the royal title, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ). His terminal issue included the rare S10.15 drachms (with the title ΘΕΟΥ, "the God") to commemorate his deification.