Item: i5621
 
Certified Authentic Ancient Coin of:

PARTHIA - King Vologases IV of Parthia, Parthian King: 147-191 A.D.
Silver Tetradrachm 24mm (9.6 grams) Struck 164-165 A.D.
Reference: Sear GCI 5856; Sellwood 84/31; B.M.C. 23. 227,25 ---
His cuirassed bust left, with long beard, wearing diademed tiara with hooked appendages and horn device on side; behind, B. ---
King enthroned left, receiving diadem with Tyche standing right before him, holding scepter; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΟΛΟΓΑΣΟΥ ΑΠΕΛΑΙΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ (king of kings, Vologases Arsaces, the anointed, the just, the illustrious, friend of the Greeks); ; in upper field, SOY (= year 476 = 164/5 A.D.) and month AΠEΛAIOY (= Appellaios = November). ---

 The chief event of this long reign was a disastrous war against the Romans, provoked by Vologases' invasion of Armenia and Syria. The Roman retaliation, under the nominal command of the co-emperor Lucius Verus, led to the sacking of Seleucia and Ctesiphon and the surrender by Parthia of the whole of Western Mesopotamia. This defeat seriously weakened Arsacid authority and contributed to the collapse of the dynasty early in the following century.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.  

Vologases IV of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire from 147 to 191. The son of Mithridates IV of Parthia (129–140), he united the two halves of the empire which had been split between his father and Vologases III of Parthia (105–147). He also reconquered the kingdom of Characene which seems to have been independent since the Roman invasion of the Parthian empire under Trajan (98–117). Vologases IV may be the king Volgash of the Zoroastrian tradition, who began the gathering of the writings of Zoroaster.

Conflicts with Rome began in about 155 with a dispute, as usual, over the kingdom of Armenia. In 162–166 the Parthians attacked the Roman Empire under Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. In this war the city of Seleucia on the Tigris was destroyed and the palace at the capital Ctesiphon was burned to the ground by Avidius Cassius in 165. The Roman legions advanced as far as Media. Vologases IV made peace but was forced to cede western Mesopotamia to the Romans.

The end of his reign was marred by the revolt of Osroes II of Parthia (190), who appears to have set himself up in Media as a rival King in hope of succeeding Vologases IV. In the event, Vologases V (191–208) of the Arsacid dynasty's Armenian cadet branch won the succession, and appears to have quickly put down Osroes II.


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