Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 784. Estimate $150.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $325. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Parthamaspates. Circa AD 116. AR Drachm (3.76 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Diademed bust left, wearing slight beard, earring, and tiara with ear flap and spiral torque; all within pelleted border / (quadrate O)ΛIIΛI-Λ[(three-bar Σ)]/(quadrate O)ΛIIΛI-ΛN ΛI- IΛN(quadrate O)V/IVIIΓIT(quadrate O) ΛIXΛI(quadrate O)V [IΠ]IΦΛИ(quadrate O)V(three-bar Σ)/[ΦI]ΛIΛΛH[X(quadrate O)(three-bar Σ)] (sic), archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Sellwood 81.1; Shore 423. Near EF, lightly toned.

From the Todd A. Ballen Collection.

Parthamaspates, a great-nephew of Osroes I, was placed upon the throne by the Romans during their Parthian invasion under the emperor Trajan. Once Trajan died in 117 AD, the new emperor, Hadrian, gave up the territory the Romans had conquered, having no asperations about conquering or even raiding Parthia. Without strong Roman backing, Parthamaspates was quickly overthrown. He fled west, and was made the king of Osrhoene by the Romans. Nothing is known of his rule there.