Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 733. Estimate $150.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PARTHIA. Gotarzes II. Circa AD 40-51. AR Tetradrachm (13.56 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Dated Apellaios SE 355 (November AD 44). Diademed bust left, wearing long beard and spiral torque; all within pelleted border / [BA(three-bar Σ)IΛEω(three-bar Σ)]/BA(three-bar Σ)IΛ[EωN AP](three-bar Σ)AK(quadrate O)[Y]/[E]YEPΓET(quadrate O)Y ΔIKAI(quadrate O)Y(Y) EΠIΦAN(quadrate O)Y[(three-bar Σ)]/[ΦIΛ]EΛΛHN(quadrate O)(three-bar Σ), Gotarzes seated right, receiving diadem from Tyche standing left; ENT (year) in field above, AΠEΛΛ (month) in exergue. Sellwood 65.1-2 var. (month); Shore -. Near VF.

From the Todd A. Ballen Collection.

Like his father, Vardanes, Gotarzes’ subsequent rule was primarily consumed with internal strife. Also like his father, his primary rivals were supported by Rome as well as some of the Iranian nobility. He was ultimately successful, but his rule accomplished little, as the constant strife continued the overall slow decline of the Parthian kingdom.