Description
Parthian Empire, Vologases I of the Arsacid Dynasty, King of Kings of Parthia 51-78 AD, Silver Drachm (3.75g, 20mm), Ekbatana mint 58-77 AD. Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of King of Kings Vologases I facing to the left, “WL” in Aramaic above. Reverse: Arsakes I seated facing to the left, wielding bow forward, “AT” monogram below bow, legend in corrupted Ancient Greek surrounds, “◻️ΛCIΛCΛC ◻️ΛCΙΛCΛN NIIΛN◻️[Υ IVIIΓ.IT◻️] ΔIXΛI◻️V ΔΙXΛI◻️YC ΠΙ+ΛΝ◻️V [+]ΙΛIΛΛΗX◻️[V]”. Sellwood-71.1; Shore-377. A bold and attractive drachm, struck on a typically oval-shaped flan with some off-centre devices, details near Extremely Fine.
The reverse heavily stylized Ancient Greek legend reads “ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ”, translitered as “Basileús Basiléōn Arsákēs, euergetēs, díkaios, epiphanḗs, phílhellēn (phílos + hellēnismós)”, with an English meaning of “[coin of the] King of Kings Arsaces, the benefactor, the just and honest, the illustrious and remarkable, friend of the Greeks”.