20160421

IRAN/Arsacid; Parthia: Vologases III CE 105-147


AR Drachm, 3.65 g, 20 mm, 12h,  Ecbatana mint. 

Sellwood 78.5

Obv/ bare-headed bust left with long, pointed beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends; earring visible; border of dots.

Rev/ archer seated right on throne holding bow; archer's seat represented as horizontal line; blundered Greek legend; monogram for Ecbatana below bow

IRAN/Arsacid; Parthia: Orodes II BCE 57-38


AR Drachm, 3.73g,  21mm, 12h, Ecbatana mint

Sellwood 48.8


Obv: bust left with pointed beard wearing diadem and griffin-ended torque; star before, crescent above star behind; wart visible on forehead; circular border of pellets

Rev: beardless archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated right on throne, holding bow in right hand; behind archer, anchor; below bow, monogram for Ecbatana; no border; seven-line Greek inscription = 
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ

20160419

A leaden aside....

Lead has been utilized for a variety of purposes throughout history; coins being an example of the more sedate usages.

Mainly, Lead has been used in human warfare as well as in everyday products in the recent past that have contributed to needlessly killing and poisoning many generations of humanity.

The examples provided below, span two millenia and are objects utilized in different kinds of warfare, the first from a battle in Spain c. BCE 45 and the second from the American Civil War 1861-1865.

Roman Glans, c. BCE 45, likely from the Battle of Munda

39 x 15 mm, 37.85 g (views of all sides)




American Civil War 1861-1865, dropped 58 caliber Minie ball likely Confederate manufacture (Georgia?), conical cavity. 22mm long, 12 mm wide, 6 mm deep cavity and 26.43 g., MM 380 type, TT 165v, weapon rifle musket. paper cartridge, muzzle load, percussion cap ignition.

before use:

after use:


previous flipped over. 26.27 g

20160401

HAWAI'I/Kalakaua I 1874-1891


AR 10 c (2.43 g) KM #3 (mintage: 250,000) 

O: KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII/1883, hd r.

R: UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO/ONE DIME/UMI KENETA, crown above denomination inside wreath.

Note: (from Wikipedia) "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono is a well-known Hawaiian phrase which was adopted as the motto of the state of Hawaii. It is commonly translated as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness".

The motto is also utilized by the Hawaiian sovereignty movement having been the motto of the Kingdom of Hawaii before it's overthrow by American business interests in 1893. The motto appears to be the one constant connecting Hawaii past and present.

Nu'uanu Petroglyph of human figure and dog near Kapena Falls, Oahu, HI