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View: Obverse

Tetradrachm of Kingdom of Parthia with bust of Phraates IV

Greek
Late Hellenistic Period
34/3 B.C.
Mint: Parthia (Kingdom), Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris (Babylonia)

Medium/Technique Silver
Dimensions Diameter: 29 mm. Weight: 12.70 gm. Die Axis: 12
Credit Line Anonymous gift in memory of Zoë Wilbour (1864–1885)
Accession Number35.172
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsNumismaticsCoins

Catalogue Raisonné Brett, Greek Coins (MFA), no. 2230.
DescriptionObverse: Bust of Phraates IV to left, with short beard, flowing hair confined by diadem, spiral necklace with forepart of winged horse, and tunic on which star and winged sea horse appear.
Border of dots.
Reverse: Phraates IV, wearing tunic and loose trousers, seated right on throne receiving palm-branch from right hand of Tyche. She wears chiton, peplos, and kalathos and stands before him holding in her left hand a cornucopia.
Inscriptions in Greek above, at right, below, and at left.
ProvenanceBy 1926: with Naville & Cie, 31 Quai du Mont-Blanc, Geneva, Switzerland (Ars Classica [Naville] auction 12, Hôtel Schweizerhof, Lucerne, Switzerland, October 18-23, 1926, lot 2293); by date unknown: U.S. Private Collection; anonymous gift to MFA, April 4, 1935