Parthian Kingdom. AR obol. Mithradatkart mint. Orodes II (57- 38 BC). Obverse: Diademed bust of king left. Reverse: Seated archer facing right, blundered four-line Greek legend around, Mithradatkart mintmark under bow. Sellwood 48.15v. (different mintmark). This coin: Frank S. Robinson Sale 123, lot 69 (January 23, 2024). Orodes II was a son of the Parthian king Phraates III (c.70-57 BC). In 57 BC, Orodes and his brother Mithradates (called Mithradates III in older references, now believed to be IV) conspired to kill their father and take over the throne. The two brothers seem to have shared power for a short while, but soon quarreled, and within a couple of years Orodes killed Mithradates to become sole ruler. Orodes had several fights with the Romans, most notably at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BC where the Parthians wiped out a large Roman force led by the triumvir Crassus. In 38 BC, his favorite son Pakoros was killed in battle in Roman Syria, forcing the distraught Orodes to choose a new heir. Unfortunately, the son he chose, Phraates IV, was quite bloodthirsty and promptly killed his father and other brothers to consolidate his grasp on power. All Parthian fractional silver is rare; the majority of Parthian silver coins are drachms, with tetradrachms making up most of the remainder. This type of obol from Orodes II is listed in Sellwood's catalog from the Ekbatana and Rhagae mints, but not from Mithradatkart. It is not unknown, however, as I found two CNG auction appearances, in Triton VII lot 454 (2004) and CNG 105 lot 505 (2017). It is nonetheless rather rare, and a nice addition to my collection. Please post your coins of Orodes II, Parthian fractional silver, or whatever else seems related.
Very interesting coin and write-up, @Parthicus Recently a far-more-common drachm of Orodes II came my way, from the Court Mint at Rhagae (if I'm reading the mint monogram correctly): Parthia Drachm Orodes II (57-38 B.C.) Court at Rhagae Mint Short-bearded bust l., star before and crescent behind (no wart) / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ | ΑΡΣΑΚΟ[Υ] | ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ | ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ | ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ | [ΦΙ]ΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ | archer seated r., monogram below bow. (3.80 grams / 20 x 17 mm) eBay Feb. 2024 Attribution: Sellwood 47.7 (17 in database); Shore -.
Here my frst and only parthian coin, Phraates II, hemidrachm, Margiane. Weight : 2,37gr. Diameter : 18mm. Only 2 others on acsearch, one in a very bad condition, and the second is from the New York sale with a similar weight, but without the diameter.
I hesitate to bid on this obol. But I prefer focus on drachms now. See here one of my Phraates III, the very rare mint of Traxiane !
I always enjoy you posts @Parthicus, here's a Parthian diobol....Vologases I KINGS of PARTHIA. Vologases I. Second reign, circa AD 58-77. AR Diobol, ~1.5g 13mm. Uncertain mint in Persis. Diademed bust left / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow. Sellwood –; Sellwood, New pl. 42, 1; cf. Sunrise 425-6; Shore 381. "New Parthian Coin Types" (Numismatic Chronicle 149, 1989), Sellwood, Plate 42, 1
