Son of Phraates III. Reign 57 - 38 BC. The Roman triumvir Crassus (defeater of Spartacus / richest man in Rome) crosses into Parthia with his army. Orodes II sends an ambassador asking what his intentions are. He says, 'I will give you my answer in Seleucia!' and Orodes replies, 'Hair will grow on my palm before you see Seleucia!' And so on. Suren meets the Roman army at Carrhae and although outnumbered four to one, defeats them. More than half of the Romans are killed. Crassus' head and hand are sent to Orodes in Armenia, where a Greek actor introduces them at the appropriate time during Euripides' Bacchae, using them as props. It is said that molten gold was poured down the throat of Crassus' severed head to mock his great wealth.
And how was Suren repaid for his great victory? Orodes had him put to death; probably to make sure he wouldn't get too big for his britches (or perhaps to confiscate his two hundred wagon loads of concubines...)
A few years later, Orodes favorite son and heir, Pacoros I, is killed fighting the Romans. Orodes loses his marbles and picks the worst of his thirty sons to be his successor, Phraates IV, who immediately kills his father, all his brothers and their families.

Sellwood 42-45

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Tetrachalkous
Shore 220, Sellwood ICP 42.3

17 mm.
3.95 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; Nike behind head crowning Orodes with wreath. Three diadem ends, connected at bottom on this example.
Reverse: Eagle standing right. Greek legend.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 45v.
19 x 20 mm.
3.47 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend. No control.
Note: Unpublished.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 45.10v.

20 x 19 mm.
3.72 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend. ΣΤΡ [reversed] (Monogram 27 variant)
Note: Variety not listed in Sellwood.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 45.31

20 x 19 mm.
3.92 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend. No control.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Chalkous
Shore 514, Sellwood ICP 45.42
10 x 9 mm.
0.96 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; crescent behind head (?).
Reverse: Horse head right.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

AE Dichalkous
Sellwood ICP 45v. type (?)
17 mm.
3.40 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left.
Reverse: Pegasos flying right (?). Greek legend.
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection. Not sure if Basilews Bacilewn legend.

Sellwood 46

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 46.10v.

21 x 19 mm.
3.47 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse:
Reverse: ΡΓ below bow. Legend variation.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 234 (this coin), Sellwood ICP 46.12

21 x 19 mm.
3.51 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; crescent behind head.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend.

Sellwood 47

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.7

20 x 19 mm.
3.98 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Greek legend.
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.10v.

21 x 18 mm.
3.98 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse: NI below bow. Legend variation.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.14

19 x 18 mm.
3.75 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 239, Sellwood ICP 47.20v.

21 x 20 mm.
3.73 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greeklegend.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.17v.; Shore 246v.

17 x 19 mm.
3.83 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greeklegend. Λ above bow.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.23

20 mm.
gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.29

19 mm.
3.06 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor i variant; anchor ends in two pellets). ΜΤΘ below bow.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.29

20 mm.
3.10 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor i variant; anchor ends in two pellets).

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 47.29; Shore 254

19 x 20 mm.
3.71 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent behind head. Diadem has three ends.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Blundered Greek legend. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor i variant). Monogram 30 below bow.

AE Unit
Sellwood ICP 47.35
12 mm.
2.00 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Eagle right.
Note: Not clear if this is a 47 type.

AE Dichalkous (?)
Sellwood ICP 47.36
?
12 mm.
1.43 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust left; star in front, crescent behind.
Reverse: Nike walking right.

AE Dichalkous
Sellwood ICP 47.37
12 x 13 mm.
1.94 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust left; star in front, crescent behind.
Reverse: Building with four structures.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Chalkous
Sellwood ICP 47.39, Shore 520
?
12 x 10 mm.
1.41 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face.
Reverse: Bow case.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Sellwood 48

AR Tetradrachm
Sellwood ICP 48.3
29 x 27 mm.
15.39 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; wart on forehead.
Reverse: King enthroned left holding Nike and sceptre; control letter 'Y' (?).
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 48.7

18 x 20 mm.
3.75 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; royal wart on forehead, star before face, crescent with star below behind head, elaborate horse symbol end to torque.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor ii) and crescent above. Blundered Greek legend.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 48.8; Shore 260 (this coin)

18 x 21 mm.
3.44 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; royal wart on forehead, star before face, crescent with star below (off flan) behind head, elaborate horse symbol end to torque.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor iii) and trident above. Blundered Greek legend. Monogram 89 below bow.

The following two drachms, Sellwood types 48.9 [Shore 261] and 48.10 [Shore 262], are from a new hoard of Orodes II coins I looked through in early May, 2002. Although there were several hundred coins, I was able to document only 121 of them, as follows:

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 261, Sellwood ICP 48.9

24 x 18 mm.
3.88 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with layered beard wearing diadem; royal wart on forehead, star before face, crescent with star below behind head, horse symbol end to torque. Unusual garment depicted in front of torque.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Anchor behind throne (Sellwood anchor iv) and trident above. Blundered Greek legend.
Note: This is the largest drachm flan I have ever seen.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 262, Sellwood ICP 48.10

20 mm.
3.93 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; royal wart on forehead, star before face, crescent with star below behind head, intricate horse symbol end to torque.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Anchor symbol behind throne (Sellwood anchor v). Blundered Greek legend.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 48.10v.

19 x 16 mm.
4.03 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse:
Reverse: ΡΓ (variation; Monogram 108) below bow. Anchor 'v'. Legend 'ii' variant (round 'C-shaped' Sigmas).
Note: Variety not listed in Sellwood.

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 48.10v.

19 x 17 mm.
3.57 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse:
Reverse: ΡΓ below bow. Anchor 'i' variant. Legend 'iii' variant (square 'C-shaped' Sigmas).
Note: Variety not listed in Sellwood.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Drachm
Sellwood ICP 48 type

21 x 19 mm.
4.59 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse:
Reverse: Monogram 'x' under bow.
Note: Unpublished.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Chalkous
Sellwood ICP 48.18v. (?); Shore 532
9 mm.
1.54 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face.
Reverse: Eagle right.
Note: Variety not in Sellwood; chalkous, not dichalkous. Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection. Could also be s47 type.

Orodes II (57-38 BC)
AE Chalkous
Sellwood ICP 48.19v., Shore 517v., Mitchiner ACW 582
11 mm.
1.25 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with short beard wearing diadem; star before face, crescent with star below behind head.
Reverse: Bust of Tyche, right; legend.
Note: Variety not in Sellwood; chalkous, not dichalkous.

Son of Orodes II. Reign 50 BC. Killed in battle.

Son of Orodes II. Reign 38 - 2 BC. Drives Mark Anthony's army out of Parthia. Fights and barely wins civil war against Tiridates. Phraates returns the standards and prisoners lost by Crassus in 53 BC to Rome; Augustus presents him with an Italian slave girl named Musa who worms her way up from concubine to favorite wife to queen and gives birth to Phraataces (little Phraates). She also persuades him to send his other sons to Rome for 'safety'. Uh oh...

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Tetradrachm
Shore 271v., Sellwood ICP 51.29v. (?)
29 x 27 mm.
11.73 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with royal wart, medium square-cut beard; wearing diadem with three ends. No emblems on garment.
Reverse: King seated right on throne, Tyche standing left holding cornucopiae, giving king palm branch. Greek legend. In exergue: date representing April, 26 BC (?).

AE Dichalkous
Sellwood ICP 51.46-53v.

14 x 13 mm.
2.57 gm.
Die position=12h
line drawing of reverse
Obverse:
Reverse: ΜΤΘ to right; anchor to left.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BD)
AE 17
Sellwood ICP 51.52v.
17 mm.
2.74 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with medium pointed beard wearing diadem; no royal wart.
Reverse: Monogram 80.
Note: Could be Gotarzes II, 40 - 51 AD issue (see: 65.32 reverse); Vologases III also has same monogram (105 - 147 AD). Triton XIII, lot 697d

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 52.12

19 mm.
3.95 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse:
Reverse:

AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 52.32v.

22 x 20 mm.
3.64 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse: ΜΤΘ below bow; Β behind archer.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 276v., Sellwood ICP 52.36v.

20 x 16 mm.
3.49 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with royal wart, medium square-cut beard; wearing diadem with three ends. Eagle crowning bust with wreath, behind.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Standard Greek legend.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Drachm
Shore 287v, Sellwood ICP 52.37v.

19 x 17 mm.
3.93 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with royal wart, medium square-cut beard; wearing diadem with four (!) ends. Eagle grasping diadem end (!) and crowning bust with wreath, behind.
Reverse: Archer seated right on throne holding bow. Standard Greek legend. Eagle with wreath behind throne.

AE Chalkous
Sellwood ICP 52.49v.
10 x 9 mm.
1.00 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust left.
Reverse: Horse standing right.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AE Chalkous
Shore 548, Sellwood ICP 52.55
9 mm.
1.00 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with pointed beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Star within crescent; legend right.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AE Chalkous
Shore 548, Sellwood ICP 52.55
9 mm.
0.77 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bare-headed bust left with pointed beard wearing diadem.
Reverse: Star within crescent; legend right.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 53.3

17 x 18 mm.
3.09 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse: Star behind throne.

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AR Drachm
Sellwood ICP 53.7

19 x 17 mm.
3.28 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:

Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
Billon Drachm
Sellwood ICP 54.14; Shore 301
[blundered]
19 x 17 mm.
2.62 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Crescent only before bust.
Reverse: Eagle behind throne.

Issued under Phraates IV (38 - 2 BC)
AE 12
Sellwood ICP 93.37
12 x 10 mm.
gm.
Die position=?h
Obverse: Head of Tyche (?); possibly something else.
Reverse: Greek date.

Usurper, possibly a general in the war against Mark Anthony. Reign 29 - 27 BC.