Sale: CNG 63, Lot: 884. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2003.  Sold For $375. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of ELYMAIS. Orodes I. Circa 57-38 BC or later(?). Billon Tetradrachm (15.40 gm). Diademed bust left; behind, star and crescent above anchor, inscription "wrwd" or "urud" ("Orodes") before / Blundered legend around diademed bust left. Cf. Alram NB3; cf. De Morgan pl. 36, 4 ('Kamnaskires D'); cf. BMC Arabia pg. clxxxix, pl. LIII, 12. Choice VF, toned. Extremely rare; third-known specimen (see CNG 51, lot 647 and CNG 60, lot 1041, for the others). ($300)

See B. Bell, "New Inscription Alters Elymais Type Chronology," in the April 2002 issue of The Celator for a discussion of these rare coins.

As this type preceeds any previous known design of Orodes I, but bears his name, it could be taken for a very early transitional issue. The alternative is to name this ruler as Orodes I, reclassify the all coins bearing a Parthian tiara as issues of Orodes II, and changing the traditional Orodes II to Orodes III. This may very well be the case, as links in Parthian coinage during the reign of Orodes II of Parthia (57-38 BC), show increased control in Elymais. This is clearly demonstrated by the presence of the Anchor (Elamite) symbol on certain Parthian drachm reverses. The most likely explanation is that the above coin was minted under the authority of Orodes II of Parthia, or one of his sons, who reintroduced direct Arsakid rule in Elymais. This explains the sudden appearance of Arsakid names among the Elamite kings, and the change in regal iconography. This hypothesis is at sharp odds with the current explanation of the dates and chronology of the Elamites, which places Orodes I at Circa 50-100 AD. The existance of this sort of a transitional issue between the Kamnaskirid Dynasty and the Arsakid Dynasty in Elymais weakens the ideological distinction made previously by showing a drastic break in the stylistic continuum.