Arsames I c.255-225 BC (Kov 1-10)
Description
Arsames (Facella 1999; 2006, 174-183) (BNP [4]) was the son of Samos and the founder of Arsamosata and Arsamea, both on the Euphrates, and of Arsamea-on-the-Nymphaeus.
Coins with the legend "King Arsames" show two different types of headdress. a bashlyk and a slightly domed tiara. Until recently the two different headdresses have been commonly thought to indicate two successive, homonymous king (e.g., CSC 2-4 (Arsames I) and 5-8 (Arsames II): ACY 2-4 (Arsames I) and 6-9 (Arsames II). An argument for two separate kings could be made given the countermark APCA, applied to some example of no. 2 below. On the other hand. APCA could also be a civic countermark for Arsamosata or Arsamea. or perhaps by the much later governor, Arsakes (ca. 70 BC). Facella (2006.174-183), however, argues persuasively that there is one King Arsames of Sophene. A change in Arsames's status could explain the change from a bashlyk to a domed tiara; it is evident from the greater wear on the bashlyk-type coins, and their relative scarcity that they preceded those with the domed tiara.)
Coins of King Arsames are catalogued here as issued by a single king.
Coin no. 4 seems to be a transitional issue, combining the military themes of coins no. 1 and 2, with the later tiara found on coins no. 5-10. This might suggest that the early reign of Arsames was concerned with military activity and conquest of territory, while his later reign was stable, as reflected in the choice of religious or cultural types.
Kovacs, Frank L. “Armenian Coinage in the Classical Period” CNS 10, Classical Numismatic Group, Lancaster, 2016, pp. 1.
Summary:
King Arsames founded three cities on the Euphrates, and his coins show two different types of headdress. It was thought that there were two successive kings with different headdresses, but Kovacs argues that there was only one King Arsames of Sophene. The change in headdress from a bashlyk to a domed tiara suggests a change in Arsames's reign from military activity to stability and cultural or religious themes. Coin no. 4 combines both themes, indicating a transition.
Coins with the legend "King Arsames" show two different types of headdress. a bashlyk and a slightly domed tiara. Until recently the two different headdresses have been commonly thought to indicate two successive, homonymous king (e.g., CSC 2-4 (Arsames I) and 5-8 (Arsames II): ACY 2-4 (Arsames I) and 6-9 (Arsames II). An argument for two separate kings could be made given the countermark APCA, applied to some example of no. 2 below. On the other hand. APCA could also be a civic countermark for Arsamosata or Arsamea. or perhaps by the much later governor, Arsakes (ca. 70 BC). Facella (2006.174-183), however, argues persuasively that there is one King Arsames of Sophene. A change in Arsames's status could explain the change from a bashlyk to a domed tiara; it is evident from the greater wear on the bashlyk-type coins, and their relative scarcity that they preceded those with the domed tiara.)
Coins of King Arsames are catalogued here as issued by a single king.
Coin no. 4 seems to be a transitional issue, combining the military themes of coins no. 1 and 2, with the later tiara found on coins no. 5-10. This might suggest that the early reign of Arsames was concerned with military activity and conquest of territory, while his later reign was stable, as reflected in the choice of religious or cultural types.
Kovacs, Frank L. “Armenian Coinage in the Classical Period” CNS 10, Classical Numismatic Group, Lancaster, 2016, pp. 1.
Summary:
King Arsames founded three cities on the Euphrates, and his coins show two different types of headdress. It was thought that there were two successive kings with different headdresses, but Kovacs argues that there was only one King Arsames of Sophene. The change in headdress from a bashlyk to a domed tiara suggests a change in Arsames's reign from military activity to stability and cultural or religious themes. Coin no. 4 combines both themes, indicating a transition.
