Parthian drachm of Orodes II, ca. 57–38 BCE
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 57–38 BCE
Issuing entity
Parthian EmpireThis silver drachm was produced under the Parthian king Orodes II. The obverse features a left-facing bust of the ruler, likely representing Orodes himself wearing a diadem as a victory emblem. He is rendered with wavy hair and a beard, wearing a torque or necklace around his neck. A star appears before his forehead and a crescent is placed behind his head, with the entire depiction enclosed by a border of dots.
The reverse shows an unidentified male figure seated on a high-backed throne and turned toward the right, potentially portraying an idealized Parthian monarch depicted as an archer. Dressed in sleeves, trousers beneath a cloak, laced boots, and a diadem, he holds a bow with its string oriented upward. Positioned in front of the seated figure is a monogram that may contain the Greek letter sigma, encircled by a partially preserved Greek inscription.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The coin illustrates stylistic shifts in Parthian coinage, displaying stylized hair and facial features on the portrait of Orodes alongside a schematic seated archer, contrasting with earlier issues that were modeled on representations of Apollo from early Seleucid coins. The surrounding inscription references Arsaces I, who ruled around 247 to 217 B.C., instead of Orodes. Scholars note this common Parthian phrasing might evoke the founder of the dynasty, identify the archer as Arsaces, or reflect the usage of Arsaces as a standard royal title by later kings.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Museum specimens
- The Met 99.35.2956: Thickness 0.23 cm, Diameter 2 cm
Design
- Obverse
- A left-facing bust of the king with a beard and wavy hair, wearing a diadem and a torque or necklace, accompanied by a star in front of his forehead, a crescent behind his head, and a dotted border surrounding the image.
- Reverse
- A seated man facing right on a high-backed throne, wearing laced boots, a diadem, and sleeved clothing and trousers under a cloak. He holds a bow with the bowstring facing upward, accompanied by a monogram in front of him that perhaps contains the Greek letter sigma, surrounded by a Greek inscription.
- Inscription (as read by the museum)
- of the king of kings Arsaces the generous, just, renowned and Greek-loving.
Identification
- Issuing state
- Parthian Empire
- Museum accession numbers
- 99.35.2956
- Issuer (museum attribution)
- Orodes II
- Reign as given by the museum
- ca. 57–38 B.C.
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research Required: no specialist corpus type number is recorded here; confirm the type, die variety and mint against a published corpus of Parthian coinage before citing one.