If there is one thing I have learned as a casual seller of ancient coins, it is always double check those attributions! Finally decided to sit down at 2:00 AM and sift through my recent winnings from a Triskeles lot - some low grade, common Sassanian and Indo-Scythian silvers. I was working through this ugly "Hormizd IV" when I realized that the obverse astral symbols didn't have a star! Ten minutes' research later, I('m 95% sure I) found it: Sassanian Empire Bahram VI "Chobin" 590-91 AR drachm (4.10g) YZ mint (Yazd, Fars) Dated RY 1 Bahram VI was a prominent general under Hormizd IV, and after the latter's death, he used his immense wealth and influence to usurp the Sassanian throne from Khusro II. He ruled for only one year, as Khusro II promised to return conquered lands back to the Byzantines in exchange for assisting him in reclaiming the throne. Bahram was defeated and fled East to seek asylum with the Turks, however he was soon assassinated by an agent of Khurso II. Comments welcome of course - I don't pretend to be an expert in Sassanian coins by any means.
Thanks for your input. I do see what you're saying - this does appear to be RY11, not RY1. However, that still doesn't explain the lack of stars in the obverse die Astral symbols - those are diagnostic of Bahram VI only, all coins of Hormizd IV have stars within the crescents; likewise with Khusro II and successors. Perhaps it could be a mule, or even an imitation?
I was looking into this and figured it was probably Khusro I (who did issue coins from the YZ mint). Then I came back here and saw @Spaniard's post. Here's my Kirman example of Khusro I (RY 22):
Very nice example Severus Alexander with lovely detail! Here's mine... Mint HWC (Gunde-Shapur, Khuzistan) /Left- Regnal year 26 = 557AD. @Finn235 I think you might have the longspear version of this ruler tucked away in your collection?
Well, now ya both got me convinced. You are absolutely right, it is a plain old ugly Khusro I, year 11. Oh well. And @Spaniard, I do indeed have an early type Khusro I in my collection with the attendants holding long spears at their sides - still haven't imaged it and don't have a good reason why not!
Here's an early Khusro I, unfortunately a bit damaged. But you can see the long spears and the other little differences of the reverse: the short swords pointing to the altar (they might be mistaken for parts of the altar), no upwards pointing ribbons at the shaft. AR drachm Khusro I (531-565 AD). Mint GW? = Gurgan. Year 2 = 532. 30.5 mm, 3.33 gr. Göbl I/1. As for the OP coin, I made the same mistake with this drachm, it looks acceptable enough but for the hole. I bought it as a Bahram VI but it soon turned out to be different. The name of the king (obverse, to the right side of the head) starts with a horizontal festoon ending in a small vertical stop. That's the letter H (= X/ Kh), and Xusro is the only king's name starting with H. The date is on the reverse to the left of the fire altar. It contains two '3's (the Pehlevi letter 'd'), and that's enough already, for the only date containing two d's is dvazdah, 12. Finally, for your pleasure here's my third and best Khusro I, also a second type: AR drachm Xusro I (531-579). Year 22 (= 552). Mint ART = Ardashir Khurra (Firuzabad). 29 mm, 4.18 gr. Göbl 196.
Nice looking coin Finn! It can only be year 4 or 7 and on close up it certainly looks like year 7.. I'll have to keep my eyes open for one of these...Paul
Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post , but I found a coin being offered at gorny auction which is identical to a coin sold by CNG few years ago. One of these are host for a transfer die forgery I believe. Please let me know if my assumption is correct so I can contact the auction house and make them aware of this https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=3371&lot=576 https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=217348
The crown and general wear pattern is same. only transfer die can copy the wear. the chance that both coins were minted by same dies and went through the same amount of wear is slim IMO
Hmm, yes, the wear on the crown is very similar. However I see different wear on the beard, altar, and flames; also extra corrosion on the CNG example, and the typical lack of die-filling due to the shoulders (seen at 9 o'clock on the reverse) is different for the two coins. I think if this is a transfer die, someone has gone to a lot of work to create some differences to throw off the scent! More likely not a transfer die IMO, and both are genuine.
Thanks for details. I also found 2 parthian die matches. What do you think about these? is one of them transfer fake? The strange part is they both have the same die break on obverse. https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/an..._gm_12h_ekbatana_mint_vf/1075435/Default.aspx https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=269561
