20170522

IRAN/PARTHIA; Vardanes I. Circa AD 40-47


AR Tetradrachm (14.16 gm; 28mm x 25mm) Seleukia mint, Dystros SE 354/February CE 43

Cf. Sellwood 64.14;
cf. Shore 350-351;
Sunrise 413.
O: Diademed bust left, wart on forehead

R:  Vardanes seated right, receiving palm from Tyche standing left, holding cornucopia.

top: ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC/ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩΝ /right: ΑΡCΑΚΟΥ/ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ/bottom:

 ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ/ΔΥCTPOC / left: ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥC/ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟC/ with year field

between Tyche and Vardanes ΔNT


There is graffito on the obverse left field that appears to be ancient based upon the patina
and it appears to refer to "ROMA" as the inscription is in Latin script not Greek.

 
Graffito highlighted above and as it appears without highlighting below