Description

Sasanian Empire. Shapur I, 240-272. AR Drachm (34.01g/ 25mm). Mint I (‘Ctesiphon’). ‘mzdysn bgy šhpwhry MRKAn MRKA ʾyrʾn MNW ctry MN yzdʾn’ = ‘mazdēsn bay Šābuhr šāhān šāh Ērān kē čihr az yaz(a)dān’ (‘The Mazda-worshipping Lord Shapur, King of Kings of the Iranians, whose essence is from the gods’ in Pahlavi) Diademed and draped bust of Shapur I to right, wearing mural crown with a great korymbos on top and long earflaps; long beard with two rings and thick tufts of curly hair at the back; two ribbons rising from behind head. Rev. Zoroastrian fire altar flanked by two regal attendants wearing mural crowns and holding scepters; the symbol of ‘frawahr’ in the upper field to the left of the flames; the so-called ‘symbol of the heir’ in the upper field to the right of the flames; to right and left, ‘NWRA ZY – šhpwhry’, i.e. ‘ādur ī Šābuhr’ (‘Fire of Shapur’ in Pahlavi). Göbl type I/1. SNS I, type IIc/1b, style P.