Tiny chalkous of Osroes I of Parthia

[Pellinore]

Here's a little bronze coin of a later Parthian king, in good style and condition. Nice also that it is dated according to the Seleucian calendar. Well, not very clearly, but I think it says YKZ, 400, 20 and 7. The 7 (zeta) is very obvious. But for the rest it depends if you read it from the outside of the coin or from the inside: 20 = K or 30 = L (Labda)? Osroes reigned from 109-129 or 421-441. If you read the date from the outside, it probably is 437.
Well, some of you probably know more about it, I hope.

Osroes I (109-129). AE chalkos. Obv. King with pointed beard to the left. Rev. Tyche to the right, year ZKY = 427 (=AD 115) or ZLY = 437. 11 mm, 1.55 gr. Sellwood 80.20.

-- Paul

[THCoins]

Having the date fully on flan would have been a nice bonus, but as it is, it is already a real little gem !

[Pellinore]

Thanks, yes, it's one of those little coins looking like licorice. A contemporary of Trajan and Hadrian.
-- Paul

[Bob L.]

Lovely example, Pellinore!  Sorry I did not spot it earlier...don't get to this neck of the Web-woods as often as I would like these days.

Yep, Sellwood 80.20.  Dates on these read from the outside.  The middle letter is a lambda, not a kappa, so the date is 125/6 AD.

Zeta = 7; lambda = 30; upsilon (off-flan here) = 400...so 437, translating to 125/6 AD.  ("/6" because years for these start in October - for Parthian coins like this that don't have a specific month inscribed the "/" becomes necessary)

[Pellinore]

Thanks, your post is stimulating me to go on collecting nice tiny coins like this.
-- Paul