Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Orodes I

1 catalogued issue of Orodes I — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Orodes I of Parthia (c. 80–75 BCE) reigned during the dynastic turmoil of the early first century BCE, a period that the coinage documents more reliably than the surviving written sources. Orodes I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 77 BCE – 90 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Seleucia on the Tigris.

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
2

Key facts

Key facts about Orodes I in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range77 BCE – 90 CE
Eras representedParthian (Arsacid) Empire
MetalsSilver
DenominationsDrachm, Tetradrachm
MintsSeleucia on the Tigris
Reignc. 80–75 BCE
DynastyArsacid (Parthian)
TypeBust obverse, seated archer reverse
NoteAttributions revised as scholarship advances

Coins as chronology

Greek and Roman writers give the Parthian succession of this era only in fragments, and several kings are known chiefly from their money. Numismatists reconstruct the sequence from die links, mint monograms and titulature.

The names attached to particular issues have shifted more than once in scholarship, so catalogue attributions in this window should be read as current best readings rather than settled fact.

Type and market

Drachms follow the standard Arsacid formula: diademed or tiara-crowned bust, seated archer reverse, Greek legend with expanding royal titles.

Prices are moderate and the coins are readily available, making this a good area for a collector who enjoys following an unsettled scholarly debate through physical objects.

Parthian (Arsacid) Empire · 247 BCE – 224 CE

Era overview →

Orodes I Silver Tetradrachm

Orodes I

90–77 BCE

Orodes I ruled in a turbulent period of Arsacid civil war. His successor Orodes II would later defeat Crassus at Carrhae (53 BCE).

Frequently asked about Orodes I

Why are early first-century Parthian kings hard to identify?
Because written sources are fragmentary and several rulers are known only from coins, so the sequence is reconstructed from die links, monograms and titulature.
Are these drachms expensive?
No — Parthian silver of this period is generally affordable, which makes it a good field for study-driven collecting.
What coins did Orodes I issue?
Orodes I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 77 BCE – 90 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Seleucia on the Tigris.
How many Orodes I pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 77 BCE – 90 CE, spread across 1 era: Parthian (Arsacid) Empire.
Which metals were used for Orodes I coinage?
Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Orodes I?
Drachm, Tetradrachm. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Orodes I coins minted?
Recorded mints include Seleucia on the Tigris.

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here