p e r s i s

Persis rose to importance as the homeland of the 'Persians' who settled there under Elam in the 8th century BC, and later founded the Achaemenid Empire. The Kings of Persis struck local coinage from the period of Seleucid decline (circa 180 BC), and through most of the Parthian period until one of their number, Ardashir, founded the Sasanian Empire. Persis was located north of the Persian Gulf in what would now be southern Iran. Difficulty interpreting some of the Aramaic legends on these coins has made it hard to attribute them to specific rulers and to create a proper chronology.


r e f e r e n c e s



Pre-Arsacid Period

Baydad
circa 220 BC (?)

Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) I
circa 200 BC (?)

Vahbarz (Oborzos)
circa 175 BC (?)


Vadfradad (Autophradates) I

Vadfradad (Autophradates) I
AR Fourre Tetradrachm
circa 150 BC (?)
Alram 533v.; Mitchiner ACW -; SGCv2 6191
28 mm.
12.77 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of king right, wearing satrapal headdress.
Reverse: Fire altar with structure in the form of building; winged Ahuramazda above. King standing on left, holding bow; standard, right. Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Vadfradad (Autophradates) II
circa 140 BC


Unknown King I

Unknown King I
AR Drachm
circa 125 BC (?)
Alram 551; Mitchiner ACW -; SGCv2 6195
15 mm.
3.79 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king right, wearing satrapal bonnet adorned with eagle; crescent on rear.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar with structure in the form of stepped battlements; winged Ahuramazda above. King standing on left, bird perched on standard, right. Aramaic legend.


Unknown King I
AR Hemidrachm
circa 125 BC (?)
Alram 552; Mitchiner ACW -; SGCv2 6198
12 mm.
1.96 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king right, wearing satrapal bonnet adorned with eagle; crescent on rear.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar with structure in the form of stepped battlements; winged Ahuramazda above. King standing on left, bird perched on standard, right. Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.


Darev (Darius) I

Darev (Darius) I
AR Obol
circa 110 BC (?)
Alram 559; Tyler-Smith 3
8 x 9 mm.
0.68 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king right, with short beard. Satrapal bonnet adorned with crescent.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Arsacid inspired coinage

Vadfradad (Autophradates) III

Vadfradad (Autophradates) III
AR Drachm
circa 80 BC (?)
Alram 561; Mitchiner ACW 741 (Autophradat II), SGCv2 6203 (Autophradates II)
18 mm.
3.39 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king right, wearing diadem with crescent above (off flan).
Reverse: Stylized fire altar; winged Ahuramazda above. King standing on left, bird perched on standard, right. Aramaic legend.


Darev (Darius) II

Darev (Darius) II
AR Drachm
circa 70 BC (?)
Alram 564; Mitchiner ACW 744, SGCv2 6206
17 mm.
3.32 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing Parthian-style tiara, ornamented with crescent and diadem.
Reverse: King standing left, holding sceptre before lighted altar. Aramaic legend.


Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) II

Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) II
AR Drachm
circa 60 BC (?)
Alram 570; Mitchiner ACW -; SGCv2 6212
22 x 24 mm.
3.22 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing mural crown with battlements; monogram to right.
Reverse: King standing left, holding sceptre before lighted altar. Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Alexander Akin collection.


Vahsir (Oxathres)

Vahsir (Oxathres)
AR Drachm
circa 50 BC (?)
Alram 587v.; Mitchiner ACW -; SGCv2 -
17 x 18 mm.
3.44 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing diadem.
Reverse: Fire altar and king represented by 'N' shape. Aramaic legend.


Pakor I

Pakor I
AR Obol
circa 10 AD (?)
Alram 594v.; Mitchiner ACW -; SGIC 5947
12 x 13 mm.
0.42 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing diadem.
Reverse: Bust of bearded prince (?) left, wearing diadem.


Pakor II

Pakor II
AR Hemidrachm
circa 30 AD (?)
Alram 597v.; Tyler-Smith 178
14 x 15 mm.
1.88 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left.
Reverse: Triskeles. Aramaic legend.


Pakor II
AR Hemidrachm
circa 30 AD (?)
Alram NB 1; Mitchiner ACW -, SGIC -
12 x 13 mm.
1.38 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing diadem and necklace with medallion; pellet behind.
Reverse: Stylized diadem. No Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.


Nambed (Namopat)

Nambed (Namopat)
AR Hemidrachm
circa 40 AD (?)
Alram 600; Tyler-Smith -
16 mm.
1.64 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing diademed mural crown with battlements.
Reverse: King standing to right with hand extended towards star within crescent. Aramaic legend.


Nambed (Namopat)
AR Hemidrachm
circa 40 AD (?)
Alram 604; Mitchiner ACW -; SGIC 5936
15 x 17 mm.
2.03 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing diademed mural crown with battlements.
Reverse: King standing to left with hand extended towards star within crescent. Aramaic legend.


Napad (Kapat)

Napad (Kapat)
AR Hemidrachm
circa 60 AD
Alram 613; Mitchiner ACW 749v., SGIC 5951
12 x 15 mm.
1.36 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent.
Reverse: Bust of bearded prince (?) left. Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.


Unknown King II (Prince 'Y')

Unknown King II (Prince 'Y')
AR Hemidrachm
circa 90 AD
Alram 619; Mitchiner ACW 751, SGIC 5956
13 mm.
1.48 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent containing pellet; triskeles symbol behind.
Reverse: Stylized diadem. Partial uncertain Aramaic legend.


Unknown King II (Prince 'Y')
AR Hemidrachm
circa 90 AD
Alram 619; Mitchiner ACW 751v., SGIC 5956
13 x 14 mm.
1.19 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent containing pellet; no symbol behind.
Reverse: Stylized diadem. Partial uncertain Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Unknown King II (Prince 'Y')
AR Hemidrachm
circa 90 AD
Alram 619; Mitchiner ACW 751v., SGIC 5956
12 mm.
0.96 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress with no ornamentation; no symbol behind.
Reverse: Stylized diadem. Partial uncertain Aramaic legend.
Note: Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.


Unknown King II (Prince 'Y')
Billon (?) Hemidrachm
circa 90 AD
Alram 619; Mitchiner ACW -, SGIC -
13 mm.
1.19 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Very crude bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent containing pellet; no symbol behind.
Reverse: Stylized diadem. Partial uncertain Aramaic legend. Double struck.
Note: This may be an imitation or, if bronze, perhaps a different denomination . Courtesy Jamison T. Graff collection.


Vadfradad (Autophradates) IV

Vadfradad (Autophradates) IV
AR Hemidrachm
circa 120 AD (?)
Alram 624v.; Mitchiner ACW 748v. (Napat), SGIC 5959v. (Autophradates III (?))
13 mm.
1.78 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent.
Reverse: Bust of bearded prince (?) left. Aramaic legend.


Manchihr I
circa 130 AD (?)

Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) III
circa 140 AD (?)


Manchihr II

Manchihr II
AR Hemidrachm
circa 150 AD (?)
Alram 637; Mitchiner ACW 754 (Minuchetr I), SGIC 5964
13 mm.
1.23 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing close-fitting headdress ornamented with crescent.
Reverse: Diademed bust of prince (?) left. Aramaic legend.


Unknown King III
circa 160 AD (?)

Manchihr III
circa 175 AD (?)


Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) IV

Ardashir IV
AR Hemidrachm
circa 190 AD (?)
Alram 648v.; Tyler-Smith 231
15 mm.
1.04 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing top-knot.
Reverse: Crowned bust left. Aramaic legend.


Ardashir IV
AR Hemidrachm
circa 190 AD (?)
Alram -; Tyler-Smith -
12 x 13 mm.
1.47 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king left, wearing top-knot. Crescent and pellet.
Reverse: Crowned bust left. Aramaic legend.


Metamorphosis of Persis into the Sasanian Empire

Shapur
circa 200 AD (?)


Ardaxsir (Artaxerxes) V
 [Sasanian King Ardashir I]


Ardashir V (Ardashir I)
AR Drachm
circa 212 - 226 AD
22 mm.
3.06 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=19 mm.; diameter of reverse border=17 mm.
Die position=8h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Ardashir V (Ardashir I)
AR Drachm
circa 212 - 226 AD
22 mm.
3.72 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=21 mm.; diameter of reverse border=18 mm.
Die position=9h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Ardashir V (Ardashir I)
AR Drachm
circa 212 - 226 AD
21 mm.
3.09 gm.
Gobl SN I/1
Diameter of obverse dotted border=18 mm.; diameter of reverse border=18 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Ardashir V (Ardashir I)
AE 1/6 Unit
circa 212 - 226 AD
16 x 18 mm.
3.45 gm.
Gobl SN I/2
Diameter of obverse dotted border=16 mm.; diameter of reverse border=n/a
Die position=1h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.


Ardashir V (Ardashir I)
AE Unit
circa 212 - 226 AD
Mitchiner ACW 757, SGIC -, Gobl SN I/2 (plate I/3)
18 mm.
2.42 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of bearded king, facing, wearing close-fitting headdress of Parthian style; Pahlavi legend.
Reverse: Fire altar; Pahlavi legend.


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