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Lot 20. Phraatakes with Musa, AR Drachm
Very rare Musa Drachm
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Bidding closed
(Sunday, April 21st, 19:10:00 CEST)
Current time: Sunday, November 24th, 19:43:43 CET
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eAuction #15, Lot 20. Estimate: CHF 1'200.00
Parthian Empire. Phraatakes with Musa (2 BC - 4 AD). AR Drachm (18-20 mm, 3.70 g).
Obv. Diademed bust of Phraatakes left, Nike figures flanking, each crowning Phraatakes with a wreath.
Rev. ΘΕΑΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΙΑΣ ΜΟΥΣΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ, diademed and crowned bust of Musa left; monogram to left.
Sellwood 58/7.
Very rare. Toned. Minor cleaning scratches, otherwise, good very fine.
Musa was a beautiful slave girl from the entourage of a son of Phraates IV who was held hostage by the Romans. In 20 BC, Augustus returned the son to the king in exchange for the legionary standards lost at Carrhae in 53 BC. Musa quickly became Phraates' favorite wife and, after bearing him a son and convince the king to send his four older sons from other wifes to Rome for education in 10 BC, she finally arranged his murder in 2 BC to secure the throne for her own son Phraatakes. Following Magian custom, she married her son and ruled for several years in his name. This and her humble origine led to much polemic among the Romans, but obviously also among the Parthian aristocrats, who overthrew her and her son in 4 AD and replaced them by Orodes III. Musa and Phraatakes completely disappeared from the sources, making it likely that they were executed.
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