Elymais Kingdom, King Kamnaskires V, Tetradrachm, 14.23 g, 54-32 BC. Weight: 14.23 g; Size: 27 mm x 27 mm; Elymais Kingdom, Kamnaskires V, Tetradrachm, 54-32 BC. Size 28-31 mm. Seleukeia on the Hedyphon mint. Uncertain date. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing long beard and torque; to right, star above anchor symbol / Diademed and draped bust left, wearing beard Condition Report: VF Ancient Elymais Kingdom Coin King Kamnaskires V (Circa 54-32 BC); BI Billon Tetradrachm (27 mm, 14.23 g, 11h). Struck in Seleucia at Hedyphon Mint Reference: DCA 524; Obverse: Diademed, draped bust of Kamnaskires V left; star over anchor behind. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAMNAΣKIPOY TOY EΓ BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAMNAΣKIPOY, smaller, diademed, bearded, draped bust left. Elymais or Elamais (Ἐλυμαΐς, Hellenic form of the more ancient name, Elam) was an autonomous state from the 2nd century BC to the early 3rd century AD, frequently a vassal under Parthian control. Most of the population probably descended from the ancient Elamites, who once had control of that area. The coins of Elymais depicted a king; it is not known whether this was a Parthian king or a local ruler, as such information has not come to light. These coins were based on Greek standards of debased Drachms and Tetradrachms. The royal picture is generally based on Parthian coinage, usually with an anchor with a star in crescent figure. The reverse has a figure or bust of Artemis with text around it, an eagle, or often only elongated dots (this has led numismatists to believe that the engravers didn't know Greek or copied from coins whose writing was already unintelligible). A variant of Aramaic, which was more conservative than the contemporary Late Old Eastern Aramaic spoken in eastern Mesopotamia, has been recorded in Elymais until the rise of the Sasanians. The chancellery of Elymais developed its own variant the Aramaic alphabet, which was characterized by cursive letters and frequent use of ligatures, apparently influenced by the contemporary Parthian chancellery script. However, there is no evidence that Aramaic was a spoken language in Elymais. It is recorded only in coins (since Orodes III) and inscriptions, such as those of Tang-e Sarvak. Provenance: private collection: New York, USA.
