88, Lot: 107. Estimate $100. Sold for $62. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Vologases IV. 147-191 AD. Billon Tetradrachm (29mm, 13.75 gm). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Dated Seleukid Era Apellaios 464 (November, 152 AD). Diademed bust left, tapering beard, earring visible, wearing tiara; B behind / [BACILEWC] BACILE[WN APCAKOY OLAGACOU DIKAIOU] EPIFANOY[C FIL]ELLHN[OC], Vologases seated left on throne, Tyche standing right before him, presenting a diadem and holding sceptre; DXU (year) above, [A]PELA[IOU] (month) below. Sellwood 84.13; Shore 427 var. (legend). Toned VF, light encrustation.

Ex Lakeview Collection.



The reign of Vologases IV, likely a son of Mithradates V, saw a renewal of hostilities with the Romans, almost fifty years after the emperor Trajan’s campaign. In 161 AD Vologases attacked Armenia, installed his chief general on its throne, and made raids into Roman Syria. To counter this move, Lucius Verus, Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, set out for the east in 162 AD. His army won significant victories and expelled the Parthian regime in Armenia. Sohaemus, a Roman citizen of Armenian heritage, was installed as the new client king. About the same time, in 163 AD, the Parthians deposed the king of Edessa, Ma'nu VIII, and replaced him with a noble named Waël. Similar to Armenia, Edessa was located in an unenviable position between the borders of the two empires. Waël's reign lasted a brief two years before he himself was deposed by the Romans in 165 AD. Meanwhile, with Verus remaining in Syria, his generals continued the Parthian campaign, sacking Seleukeia on the Tigris and Ktesiphon. Although eventually forced to withdraw due to an outbreak of disease, the Romans remained in northern Mesopotamia for some time. This campaign appears to not have had a very detrimental effect upon Vologases, as he remained in power for some time.