Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 543. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $2200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Phraates II. 132-126 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.02 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Diademed bust right, wearing short beard, within bead-and-reel border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ/MEΓAΛOV down right field, AP ΣAKOY/NIKHΦOPOY down left, bearded male god, wearing chiton, himation, and polos, enthroned left, holding Nike in outstretched right hand and cradling cornucopia in left arm; monograms in exergue. Sellwood 17.1; Shore -. Good VF, toned.

From the Todd A. Ballen Collection.

The S17 series of Phraates' coinage was issued at Seleukeia in commemoration of his victory over what proved to be the final Seleukid invasion of Parthia. This invasion was launched in the late summer of 130 BC, under the command of their king, Antiochos VII. After initial Seleukid advances, in the mid-summer or early-autumn of 129 BC, the Parthians successfully defeated the invaders and killed their unfortunate king.