PARTHIAN EMPIRE – ORODES II (57–38 BC) – AR DRACHM – KANGAVAR – 3.95 G – VERY FINE
Orodes II – The Parthian King Who Defeated Rome at the Battle of Carrhae
An ancient silver drachm attributed to Orodes II (57–38 BC), one of the most historically significant rulers of the Parthian Empire and a king whose reign witnessed one of Rome’s greatest military defeats.
Orodes II ruled during a period of intense political rivalry between the Parthian kingdom and the expanding Roman Republic.
His reign is particularly remembered for the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BC, when a Parthian army commanded by the general Surena decisively defeated the Roman forces of Marcus Licinius Crassus.
The coin represents the traditional silver currency of the Arsacid dynasty, featuring a distinctive royal portrait on the obverse and the seated archer design on the reverse.
Attributed to the historic mint of Kangavar, this drachm offers a tangible connection to the political, military, and monetary traditions of ancient Persia.
Historical Background
Orodes II became king of Parthia in approximately 57 BC, during a period of dynastic conflict within the Arsacid royal family.
His accession followed a struggle for power involving his brother Mithradates IV, reflecting the complex succession disputes that frequently characterized Parthian royal politics.
During his reign, the Parthian Empire controlled extensive territories across Mesopotamia and the Iranian plateau, occupying a strategic position between the Roman Republic and the kingdoms of Central Asia.
Relations between Rome and Parthia became increasingly confrontational as Roman political leaders sought military prestige and territorial influence in the East.
In 53 BC, the Roman triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus launched a major invasion of Parthian territory.
The Roman army encountered a Parthian force commanded by Surena near Carrhae, in northern Mesopotamia.
The Parthian cavalry, particularly its mounted archers and heavily armoured cataphracts, proved devastatingly effective against the Roman legions.
The resulting Battle of Carrhae ended in a catastrophic Roman defeat.
Crassus was killed during the campaign, and thousands of Roman soldiers were killed or captured.
The loss of Roman military standards became a lasting symbol of the defeat and remained an important diplomatic issue between the two empires.
The victory at Carrhae established Parthia as one of Rome’s most formidable eastern rivals.
Orodes II subsequently faced additional conflicts involving Roman forces and internal dynastic struggles.
His reign also witnessed the activities of his son Pacorus I, who played an important role in Parthian military campaigns against Roman territories.
Following the death of Pacorus in 38 BC, the royal succession became increasingly unstable.
Orodes II was eventually succeeded by his son Phraates IV.
The reign of Orodes II remains one of the defining periods in the history of the Arsacid dynasty, illustrating the military strength and political importance of the Parthian Empire.
Silver drachms issued under his authority circulated throughout the kingdom and served as important instruments of commerce and symbols of royal legitimacy.
Coin Description
Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Orodes II facing left, wearing an elaborate royal hairstyle with carefully arranged rows of curls and long ribbons extending behind the head.
The portrait retains well-defined facial features, including the prominent eye, nose, moustache, and beard.
The royal diadem and hairstyle remain particularly recognizable, with several individual rows of curls clearly preserved.
The draped bust displays decorative elements and raised details across the chest and shoulder.
The silver-grey surfaces exhibit moderate circulation wear, fine marks, and areas of darker toning.
A prominent crack extends inward from the right edge of the flan, crossing the hair and ribbon area. This visible defect is an important characteristic of the coin’s present condition.
Reverse: Arsaces seated right on a throne, holding a bow, surrounded by Greek inscriptions containing the traditional royal titles of the Parthian kings.
The seated archer was one of the most enduring symbols of the Arsacid dynasty, representing royal legitimacy, military tradition, and continuity with the dynasty’s founder.
The central figure remains recognizable, including the seated posture, extended arm, bow, and portions of the throne.
Several sections of the surrounding Greek inscriptions retain strong relief, although some characters are weakened by wear and striking irregularities.
A visible crack extends from the left edge of the flan toward the central design, corresponding to the defect visible on the obverse.
The reverse displays silver-grey surfaces, scattered marks, darker deposits in recessed areas, and evidence of circulation.
The Kangavar Mint
Attributed to Kangavar, an ancient settlement located in the western Iranian plateau, along an important route connecting the region of Ekbatana with Mesopotamia.
The area occupied a strategically significant position within the territories controlled by the Parthian Empire.
Kangavar is historically associated with the sanctuary traditionally identified with the goddess Anahita, reflecting the region’s religious and cultural importance.
The settlement formed part of a wider network of cities and commercial routes linking western Iran with the principal political centres of the Arsacid kingdom.
Silver coinage attributed to Kangavar contributes to our understanding of regional monetary production and circulation during the Parthian period.
The attribution of individual Parthian drachms to specific mints depends on the study of royal portraits, symbols, monograms, and comparative numismatic references.
Collector’s Appeal
This ancient silver drachm offers collectors an interesting example of Parthian royal coinage associated with Orodes II, one of the most historically important kings of the Arsacid dynasty.
The obverse preserves a recognizable royal portrait with distinctive facial features, elaborate hairstyle, and flowing diadem ribbons.
The reverse retains the traditional seated archer design and substantial portions of the surrounding Greek inscriptions.
The historical association with the Battle of Carrhae and the defeat of Marcus Licinius Crassus provides particular interest for collectors of Roman Republican and Parthian history.
The coin exhibits silver-grey surfaces, darker toning, circulation wear, and visible surface marks.
An important condition consideration is the prominent flan crack, visible on both sides of the coin. This defect is clearly disclosed and should be considered when evaluating the piece.
Despite this condition issue, the coin retains historical and numismatic interest through its identifiable royal portrait and traditional Arsacid reverse.
An interesting addition to a collection of ancient Persian, Parthian, Arsacid, or Roman Republican history.
Numismatic Details
Empire: Parthian Empire
Ruler: Orodes II
Date: Ca. 57–38 BC
Dynasty: Arsacid
Mint: Kangavar (attributed)
Denomination: AR Drachm
Metal: Silver
Weight: 3.95 g
Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Orodes II left, with elaborate curled hairstyle, beard, and flowing royal ribbons
Reverse: Arsaces seated right on throne, holding bow, surrounded by partially preserved Greek royal inscriptions
Condition: Very Fine (VF), with a prominent flan crack
Surface: Silver-grey surfaces with darker toning, circulation wear, scattered marks, and localized roughness
Flan: Irregularly shaped, with a substantial crack visible on both sides
Period: 1st century BC
Historical Association: Battle of Carrhae (53 BC), Marcus Licinius Crassus, Surena, and the military rivalry between Parthia and Rome
An ancient silver drachm representing the monetary traditions of the Parthian Empire during the reign of Orodes II, the king whose forces achieved the celebrated victory over Rome at the Battle of Carrhae.
A historically engaging example of Arsacid silver coinage, preserving the traditional royal portrait and seated archer design despite its visible flan crack and circulation wear.