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ANCIENT GREEK COINS

Sassanian

Coins of the Sassanian Kingdom.

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(Reference: Sellwood - An Introduction to Sasanian Coins by D. Sellwood.)

Sassanian. Varhran I. AD 271-274.
Silver drachm.

Varhran I, AD 271 to 274.
Denomination : Silver Drachm.
This type does not have a date or mint.
Size : 26.3 x 27.2 Weight : 4.30 grams.
Grade : XF
Obverse : Head of Varhran right with a long inscription around.
Reverse : Fire altar flanked by two attendants, with inscriptions to the sides.

Sassanian coins of this period are of much finer style than those can came about 100 years later. Varhran I is a relatively rare King.

SOLD

Order # 1092

Sassanian. Artashir III, AD 628 to 630.
silver drachm.

Denomination: Silver Drachm.
Mint: ART
Date: Year 2 (AD 629).
Size: 31.2 x 32.8 mm. Weight : 4.05 grams.
Grade: XF, good bright silvery appearance, with lots of lustre.
Obverse: Head of Artashir III right with a Sassanid inscription naming him around.
Reverse: Fire altar flanked by two attendants with the mint mark to the right and the date mark to the left in Sassanid script.

SOLD

Order # 3044

(Reference: Sellwood - An Introduction to Sasanian Coins by D. Sellwood.)

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SASSANIAN COINS

(Reference: Sellwood - An Introduction to Sasanian Coins by D. Sellwood; R. Whitting & R. Williams and Mitchiner - Ancient and Classical World.)

Sassanian drachms (which make up 99% of Sassanian coins one comes across) are often struck on thin flans, where there is not enough metal thickness to fill the dies. This often results in weak area on one side, which mirror the high points directly opposite on the other side (this is common on many European medieval coins as well). One should view an example with minor weak areas as normal. Coins that are well struck on both sides should be viewed as superior example worth a premium.

Identifying the King on a Sassanian coins is not too difficult even if you cannot read the inscriptions. Each King had a unique style of crown. Once you get used to looking at the crowns, the rest is easy (sort of). Then again, reading the dates and mints on the dated issues can be difficult at the best of times.

SHAPUR I, AD 240-270

VAHRHAN IV, AD 388-399

YAZDGARD I, AD 399-420

KAVID, AD 488-531

Kavid actually had two reigns. The first from AD 488-496 and the second from AD 498-531. He started the practice of putting regnal dates on his coins with Year-11, which was the 11th year from the start of his first reign but also the first year of his second reign. The practice of the dating the coins was at first sporadic, and not all of his second reign coins will be dated.

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Door lintel with lion-griffins and vase with lotus leaf, Parthian

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