Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 823. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $240. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Vologases VI. Circa AD 208-228. AR Drachm (3.18 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Diademed bust left, long pointed beard, wearing tiara with long earflap (with crescent erased in the die) / Degraded legend [but first line: 'King Vologases' in Parthian script], Arsakes I seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Sellwood 88.24; Shore -. VF, toned, scratches on tiara (from removing crescent). Extremely rare.

From the Todd A. Ballen Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 75 (23 May 2007), lot 602.

All of these drachms with long earflap are extremely rare, but there are a number among them with the crescent intentionally removed from the coin (rather than the die), suggesting it was an official modification, perhaps done at the mint.