I picked this up at the ANA show last year. No attribution. The strike and condition aren't very good but it is a Kushano-Sasanian bronze. Perhaps @THCoins or @Ancientnoob can make sense of the squiggles and narrow down the attribution and provide a catalog reference? KUSHANO-SASANIANS Ardashir I Circa CE 230-245, Merv mint Æ 19 mm, 2.8 gm Obv: Crowned bust right with Pahlavi inscription around Rev: Anahit seated facing under domed canopy, holding wreath and scepter; Pahlavi inscription around Ref: Cribb SI 19#16, Mitchiner MACW-1264 (attribution enhanced with information provided by THCoins )
This is generally attributed to Ardashir I. The squiggles in front of the bust are supposed to indicate the Mintname, Merv. The edge writing on the other side is Pahlavi script, which i have not mastered yet. Your description seems correct. For reference: this is Cribb SI 19#16 / Mitchiner MACW-1264 Look here fore some nice other specimen: http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=22041.0
For comparison, here are two examples I have owned, both Cribb 16. The legend as given by Mitchiner is MaZDISN BaGI ARTaHShaTR RaBI KUShAN MaLKA which is something like "Mazda-worshiper divine Aradashir great Kushan king".
Yes Tif, totally right. The Kushanshahs where regional governors often carrying the names of famous Sasan rulers. Once the Western Kushan Empire fell to Persia under Ardashir and Shapur, most of the territories west of the Punjab became a short lived client state. They ultimately factured under pressures for various Huns and other nomadic peoples. These are interesting coins and often aflre found in far worse condition. The poor condition of these and Kushan bronzes suffer as a result of the climate and acidic soil of the region of which they are found.
