Parthian Drachm Issued by Orodes I

ca. 57 BCE-37 BCE

13/16 in. (diameter) x 1/16 in. (2 cm x 0.2 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• anchors - Any of various devices dropped to the bottom of a body of water and designed to bury themselves there in order to restrict the movement of watercraft or other floating objects.
• bows - Stringed projectile weapons designed to propel arrows, generally consisting of a long stave of wood, metal, fiberglass, or other flexible material, with a length of strong string fastened to the tips of the stave which is bent in a curve, either permanently or from the tension of the string. The string is drawn back, holding the arrow by means of a notch in its rear tip, and propels the arrow upon release.
• crescents - Motifs consisting of a curved segment of a circle, often suggesting a crescent moon.
• drachmas - Small, silver Greek coins originally equivalent to six obols and issued from the 6th century BCE; usage continued by the Parthians and Sassanians until the 7th century CE.
• Mesopotamian glyptic styles - Glyptic styles belonging to Mesopotamian cultures.
• silver - Pure metallic element having symbol Ag and atomic number 47; a malleable, ductile, white metal with characteristic sheen, considered a precious metal. Silver is widely distributed throughout the world, occurring rarely as metallic silver (in Peru, Norway) but more often as silver-gold alloys and silver ore. Today silver is obtained as a byproduct in the refinement of gold, lead, copper, or zinc ores. Silver was smelted from the ore galena as early as 3800 BCE. As a pure metal, silver is second to gold in malleability and ductility, can be polished to a highly reflective surface, and used -- typically in an alloy -- in jewelry, coinage, photography, mirrors, electrical contacts, and tableware.
• stars - Conventionalized figures derived from astronomical stars, having radiating points of any number.
• thrones - Ceremonial chairs or seats occupied by a monarch, prelate, or other high dignitary, especially on state or other special occasions; usually placed upon a dais and covered with a canopy.