90, Lot: 52. Estimate $100. Sold for $62. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Vologases I. 51-78 AD. AR Drachm (20mm, 3.58 gm). Ekbatana mint. Diademed bust left, tapering short beard, wart on forehead, earring visible, hair in five waves / Arsakes I seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow. Sellwood 70.13; Shore 373; BMC Parthia pg. 182, 32. VF/good VF, die breaks in obverse field.

From the Bellaria Collection.

Vologases’ accession was secured without internal dispute. Unlike most of his predicessors, his brothers all confirmed his claim, and in return Vologases appointed them to rule sub-kingdoms. His appointment of his brother Tiridates as king of Armenia brought him into direct conflict with Rome, which viewed Armenia as their own vassal. The Roman emperor Nero sent the famed general Corbulo to deal with the problem. After defeating Tiridates, Corbulo placed a Roman candidate, Tigranes, upon the throne with a Roman army to support him. Tigranes attempted to subjugate Parthian Adiabene, but his army was crushed by Vologases. In 63 AD, the Romans and Parthians struck an agreement in which Tiridates would rule Armenia, but would be crowned by Nero. This settlement inaugurated a period of peace between the two empires that would last until Trajan’s invasion some fifty years later. Although initially quiet, Vologases had to deal with a number of revolts, most significantly that of his son Vardanes II and the Indo-Parthian Sanabares. He was apparently overthrown by opponents in his nobility, but the circumstances are unknown.