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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
122, Lot: 163. Estimate $500.
Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of ELYMAIS. Kamnaskiries II-III. Late 2nd-early 1st century BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 3.82 g). Susa(?) mint. Dated SE 208 (105/4 BC). Diademed head right / Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; HS (date) in exergue. Alram -; LeRider, Suse -; J. Dilmaghani, "Parthian coins from Mithradates II to Orodes II," NumChron 1986, p, 217 and pl. 24, 2 (same dies). VF, die break on obverse. Extremely rare, one of approximately three known.

Ex Gorny & Mosch 122 (10 March 2003), lot 1525; Frank Kovacs List XV (May 1982), no. 160.

Scholars are uncertain whether the HS mark on this issue is or is not a date. The conventional placement and form of this mark, taken in the context of contemporary Seleukid issues indicates that the mark is in fact a date. If it is a date, which would have to be a Seleukid Era date, the coin is placed in a period where almost nothing is known of Elymais. We do know that the Parthian kings used the title 'King of Kings' and that many local dynasts were permitted to strike coinage under the consent of the Parthian monarch during this period, and ostensibly this coin was struck as such. Kamnaskires I and II are traditionally placed in the 140s-130s BC, and the next dated Elymaian issue (barring the present type) is in the 80s BC on an issue of Kamnaskires III and Anzaze. Thus, the coin would have to be either a very late issue of Kamnaskires II, or else an early issue of Kamnaskires III. Another view is that the mark is not a date, but some other control marking. The style of the issue is of good quality, and suggests that this coin belongs among the earliest coins of Elymais, perhaps even Kamnaskires I. Without further evidence, though, the controversy remains unsettled.