Orodes II Sellwood 48.9

Drachm, 21x18mm, 4.05g.

Obverse: Bareheaded bust L, pointed beard, wearing diadem, royal wart on forehead, star L, crescent and star R, wearing torque with horse's head end.

Reverse: Archer seated R on throne, anchor-like symbol L, monogram below bow.

Blundered inscription recogniseable as:

BASILEWS BASILEWN/ARSAKOU/EUERGETOU DIKAIOU/EPIFANOUS FILELLHNOS

The letters of the inscription are only about 1mm high, which may well explain the minor blundering; some Parthian celators, especially under the later rulers, were clearly illiterate in Greek, and substituted patterns for writing, but the meaning of this one is apparent.

Orodes II was the king who destroyed Crassus and his army at Carrhae in 53 BC.