Lot 3313

Description

Parthia, Kingdom of, Bagasis, (127-126 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.192 grams), Seleucia mint, obv. long bearded bust to right in diadem, filleted border, rev. Demeter enthroned to left, holding Nike in right hand, cornucopiae in left, neirod supporting throne, to right, **BASILEWS* to left **ARSAKOU*, (S.-, Sellwood 18.1 [£3500], Le Rider Suse, Pl.lxxi, 1-2, BMC -, Shore -). Very fine and extremely rare.

See the attribution and discovery of this ruler by Dr. Assar in Celator January 2001. Bagasis known from some cuneiform texts as Baga-asa a brother of the rulers Phraates I, Mithradates I and Artabanus I and is suggested by Dr Assar to be the short lived ruler (of a few months) and the successor of Pharaates II. Almost all of the forty known examples (including this piece) come from the one hoard found several years ago.