KINGS OF PARTHIA. Phraatakes, with Musa, circa 2 BC-AD 4. Drachm (Silver, 22 mm, 3.69 g, 1 h), Ekbatana. Diademed and draped bust of Phraatakes to left, wearing torque and being crowned by two Nikai flying right and left. Rev. [ΘEAΣ] OYPANIAΣ - MOYΣHΣ BAΣIΛI[ΣΣHΣ] Draped bust of Musa to left, wearing elaborate crown and necklace with medallion; to left, monogram. Sellwood 58.9. Shore 324. Sunrise 404. Rare. Lightly toned and unusually complete. Light doubling, otherwise, about extremely fine.


Musa was a beautiful slave girl who arrived at the Parthian court in the entourage of one of Phraates' hostage sons, who had been released by Augustus in the peace settlement of 20 BC that also returned Crassus' legionary eagles to Rome. The Parthian king quickly fell in love with the girl, marrying her and making her his queen. To his fatal misfortune, however, Musa turned out to be a highly talented and ruthless power seeker, and in 2 BC, she poisoned her husband and replaced him with their mutual son, Phraatakes, whom she married, becoming his mother-wife. This is the royal couple we find portrayed on our coin. The king, Phraatakes, appears on the obverse, while his mother, wife and queen, Musa, adorns the reverse