Parthian Kingdom, Ekbatana mint. AE dichalkoi (13 mm, 1.30 g). Orodes II (c.57-38 BC). Obverse: Diademed bust of Orodes II left, crescent behind. Reverse: Head of Tyche wearing turreted crown, standard seven-line Greek legend around (slightly blundered), Ekbatana mint symbol before. Sellwood 46.28, Shore 517. This coin: Auctions Sale 367 (NBJ Numismatics), lot 118 (October 2021). (Note: Historical paragraph is reused from a previous write-up.) 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. Tyche, a goddess of fortune, shows up fairly often on Parthian bronzes, especially in the 2nd century AD and on coins issued at Seleukia-on-the-Tigris. However, this portrait just struck me as ridiculous. Her hair seems to be missing, her nose comes out the middle of her forehead, the three-layer turreted crown is too big, and her expression... well, in my year-end Top 10 I called it "the derpiest derp-face that ever derped", and I stand by that judgment. It seems to be a scarcer type, though I'd guess most collectors aren't exactly falling over themselves to acquire such a silly-looking coin. Also of note, you can see at the top of the obverse remains of a casting sprue. Many Parthian bronze coins were struck on blanks that were originally cast, and the sprues were filed off prior to casting. Please post your coins of Orodes II, or coins featuring similarly ridiculous-looking portraits.
Ahhhhh... DERP! Great coin and writeup @Parthicus ! PARTHIA Orodes II 57-37 BCE AR Drachm 18mm 3.3g - Crassus gold - Ekbatana mint stars crsnt Arsakes on throne bow anchor Sellwd48.9
@Parthicus......Nice looking coin and enjoyed the write up thanks. What are the criterias between a Dichalkous and Chalkous?
[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 8133916, member: 81887"] View attachment 1417052 ...Head of Tyche wearing turreted crown...[/QUOTE] Ancient Expressionism?
