Kings of Parthia - Vonones I (Roman King). Circa AD 8-12. AR
KINGS of PARTHIA. Vonones I. Circa AD 8-12. AR Drachm (20mm, 3.75 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. (quadrate BACI?EYC ON?NHC, diademed bust left, wearing long beard, earring, and spiral torque; all within pelleted border / (quadrate BACI?EYC ON?NHC N?IKHCAC APTABANO[Y], Nike advancing right, holding diadem and palm frond; monogram below palm frond. Sellwood 60.5; Shore 329; Sunrise 407. Choice EF, lightly toned. RareVery rare type for Parthian coins.Vonones I of Parthia, (??O??S on his coins) ruled the Parthian Empire from about 8 to 12 AD, Same period of Jesus. He was the eldest son of Phraates IV of Parthia (ruled c. 37–2 BC) and was sent to Rome as a hostage in the 20s BC as surety for a treaty his father made with Augustus.After the assassination of Orodes III in about 6 AD, the Parthians applied to Augustus for a new King from the house of Arsaces. Augustus sent them Vonones I, but he could not maintain himself as King; he had been educated as a Roman, and was despised by the Parthian nobility as a Roman stooge.See images … Read More