Auction Catalogue

15 February 2017

Starting at 1:00 PM

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A Distinguished Collection of Roman Bronze Coins, the Property of a Gentleman

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Lot

№ 68

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15 February 2017

Hammer Price:
£2,200

Roman Imperial Coinage, Trajan, Sestertius, Rome, 116, laureate and draped bust right, imp caes ner traiano optimo avg ger dac parthico p m tr p cos vi p p, rev. rex parthis datvs, Trajan seated left on chair raised on dais, prefect behind; in front, Parthamaspates is presented to kneeling figure of Parthia, s c in exergue, 26.25g (RIC 667; C 328; Sear 3191). Well-struck and of good style, good very fine, dark brown patina, rare £1,500-2,000

Provenance: E.A. Sydenham Collection, Glendining Auction, 10 December 1941, lot 121.

In 115-16, at the very zenith of the Empire’s extent, Trajan’s armies conquered most of Parthia. At first the plan was to annex the kingdom and turn it in to another province; however, Trajan ultimately decided to set up a client king who would rule the territory on behalf of Rome. This was Parthamaspates, son of the defeated King Osroes. However this arrangement was short-lived. Following the withdrawal of the Roman army, Osroes easily defeated his son and regained his throne. Parthamaspates fled back to Rome and, as consolation, the Romans made him co-ruler of Osroene, a small Roman client state between Asia Minor and Syria