Description

Sasanian Empire. Shapur I, 240-272. AR Drachm (3.61g/ 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; a pellet in the upper field to the left of the flames; to left and right, ‘NWRA ZY – šhpwhry’, i.e. ‘ādur ī Šābuhr’ (‘Fire of Shapur’ in Pahlavi). Göbl type I/1. SNS I, type IIc/1a. Very fine.