196, Lot: 77. Estimate $200. Sold for $910. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Phraates III. Circa 70/69-58/7 BC. AR Drachm (20mm, 3.91 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Struck circa 67/6-63/2 BC. Diademed bust left / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Assar, Revised, p. 90; Sellwood 36.4 var. (Darius?; KAI in legend); Shore 150 var. (same). EF, attractively toned. Fine style.

Phraates III made a bid for power in about 70/69 BC after the death of his father, Sinatrukes. The earliest Babylonian tablet that can be securely attributed to him, however, is dated 28/9 December 66 BC, referring to Phraates as "King of Kings" Arsaces with his mother as the royal consort. The late date of this text perhaps confirms that the struggle between Artabanos II and Phraates III lasted for over three years until the latter finally triumphed.

The contemporary and classical sources confirm that Phraates was largely preoccupied with hostilities against Rome and Armenia, and wars with Artabanos II in Parthia proper down to 61/0 BC. Phraates issued his S39 series while still fighting his rival, followed by his S38 series which lasted to the end of his reign. On the strength of the evidence from the "annual" Susa bronze coinage, Phraates appears to have been murdered by his sons, Mithradates and Orodes, after October 58 BC, although the exact date of his death remains unknown.