332, Lot: 144. Estimate $100. Sold for $180. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDO-PARTHIANS, Margiana or Sogdiana. Uncertain. Late 1st century BC-early 1st century AD. AR Drachm (18mm, 2.75 g, 12h). Imitating a countermarked drachm of Parthian king Phraates IV (countermark-in-die type). Diademed bust left; behind, eagle left, holding wreath; on neck, circular “countermark” of helmeted king right / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow. Senior 199.2D; Sellwood 91.13; Sunrise 494. Fine, toned, minor deposits.

This peculiar type is remarkable in that it imitates Phraates IV drachms that were countermarked with a local “Eukratides I” type helmeted bust (see Senior 199.1D), but the issuing authority decided to include the “countermark” in the obverse die. Thus the coins were struck already featuring the locally accepted “countermark”.